Bonnie B Boyce

Salt Lake City, Utah -

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Bonnie Beryl Hancock Boyce peacefully left this world on November 7, 2022, surrounded by her family. Bonnie was born on April 13, 1931 to Mable and Burl Hancock in Payette, Idaho. She was the middle of their three children, flanked by her beloved brothers, Clifford and Bobby. After her parents' divorce, she and her brothers were raised during the Depression by their strong and fierce single mom. Their lives weren't easy, but Bonnie and her brothers grew up determined to thrive in a not always hospitable world, Bonnie being no exception.

Bonnie grew up in Jerome, Idaho, attending high school there. After graduating, she moved to Boise, Idaho to work at a local creamery. Not long after moving, she met the love of her life and future husband, Elvin Boyce. He was her biggest fan, who, on a dare, was lucky enough to woo her away from her job at the creamery at the age of 18, before anyone else could. They married on February 25, 1950 in Boise. You could easily have mistaken them for a movie star couple. She returned Elvin's love for a mere 62 plus years, despite his inability to get her the perfect gift for birthdays or Christmas.

They didn't wait too long to start a family, when their first child, Sharon, was born two years after they married. Three more daughters came pretty quickly, one of whom died in infancy. Through joy and tragedy, the young Bonnie would quietly and stoically go on with life, savoring the good times and never letting the bad times bring her down for long.

The family of five moved to Salt Lake City in the early 1960s, where Bonnie and Elvin lived for the rest of their lives. When the girls were a little bit older, Bonnie chose to work outside the home, securing a job with the Salt Lake City government as a meter maid. After a couple of years, she was made meter maid in chief, affectionately called, "Queen of the Ritas" by her colleagues. She could be seen tooling around the city in her little Cushman police cart, handing out tickets to many a disgruntled citizen. She surely suffered some abuse, but, knowing Bonnie, she took it unflappably.

She later changed jobs within the city, working for the Salt Lake Airport Authority, a job she absolutely loved. She worked there until she retired in 1993. After retirement, she and Elvin spent their time in their lovely Rose Park home, making it a little garden spot and a cozy haven for their daughters and six grandchildren to visit and be fed delicious food. Bonnie became an adventurous cook in retirement, after she no longer had to cook everyday meals for her picky brood. Bonnie and Elvin also became Jeopardy aficionados, never missing an episode when they were in town. When not in town, they were likely on a trip in their beloved fifth wheel trailer, tearing up the miles visiting family and marvelous places throughout the West.

Bonnie was never one to put on airs, a trait she instilled in her daughters, Shari, Becky, and Lanie. Though she was often on the receiving end of many a compliment, her response would likely be, "Oh, I don't know."

After losing Elvin in 2013, Bonnie spent the rest of her life quietly, surrounded by the love of her family and many dear friends. She always remembered birthdays and other special occasions of the people she loved, sending cookies and crocheted treasures to them, to the delight of all who received them.

Bonnie is survived by her three daughters, Sharon Stone, Becky Laursen (Eric), Lanie Lundgrin (Jerry Spinrad); grandchildren, David Stone (Jen), Rachel Stone, Shay Carrillo (David Fredrickson), Clayton Cooke, Erika Lundgrin (Will Tierney), and Emma Pierce (Andrew); great grandchildren, Dylan Stone, Josie Chatterton, Pilar Fredrickson, Mateo Fredrickson, Aurelia Cooke, Ansel Tierney, Iris Pierce, Audrey Pierce, and little Barrette Tierney, who had the great good fortune to be born on Bonnie's 91st birthday. Preceded in death by mother, Mable, daughter, Linda, and of course, her beloved husband, Elvin. She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.

In memory of Bonnie, just cook your family a good meal, have a cup of coffee with a good friend, crochet a hotpad, or take the time to write a card to those you love. Special thanks to Aspire Hospice for their kind and respectful care of Bonnie.