Bonnie Erdei
1950 – 2023
Salina, Utah–Our beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend, Bonnie Barrett Erdei, returned to her loving Heavenly Father on Saturday, October 21, 2023, at the age of 73. She was a woman of great strength and faith and lived a life of service. Bonnie lived with Juvenile Onset Diabetes from the age of 10 years old. Life brought her many challenges and trials, but she faced them with great faith, determination, and strength.
She was born on June 16, 1950, at the Salina Hospital, a daughter of Keith Stanley and Vaneese Allred Barrett. She graduated from North Sevier High School in 1968 and attended Southern Utah State College in Cedar City on a four-year full ride scholarship. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education in the spring of 1972.
Bonnie met James Douglas Erdei at college in 1970. JIm was the love of her life. On June 16th, 1972, Bonnie’s birthday, they were married in the Manti temple for time and eternity.
While waiting for the adoption of their children, Bonnie and Jim received a special call to be ordinance workers at the Manti temple two days a week. They both cherished this opportunity and served for one year until their oldest child was born. Bonnie and Jim were the recipients of the Gold Medal Marriage Recognition Award in 2002. They were selected for their exemplary marriage and were honored by Governor Michael Leavitt, Celebration of Marriage on June 14th, 2002, at the Salt Lake Salt Palace Convention Center.
Bonnie always felt so fortunate that Heavenly Father blessed them with three children. Amber, Chandler Keith, and Starli. Their prayers had been answered and their children brought so much joy and love in her life. Bonnie cherished her role as a mother. Her greatest desire was to emulate the example her mother set. She was an excellent mother, homemaker and cook.
At a young age, Bonnie was taught how to work hard. She helped her mother in the home and worked with her father in the grocery business by stocking shelves. After graduation from college, Bonnie worked at North Sevier High School, as a teacher’s aide and in the library with Lyal Ashman, a woman whom she greatly admired. After her children had grown, she worked from home doing book work for the family business, Holly’s Pantry, and working in the office at Barrett’s Food Town. After Bonnie’s father, Keith, passed away in 2006, Bonnie and Jim became the owners of Barrett’s Foodtown.
Bonnie was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and served in many callings throughout her life. She and Jim were called to be LDS Employment Resource Missionaries in Richfield in 2016-17. Her favorite calling was that of a visiting teacher and minister. She loved those whom she served for over 50 years.
Bonnie’s greatest joy came from her children and eight grandchildren. She loved to travel with them, have family dinners, play with them, and spend quality time with them. She loved to attend their programs and sporting events. She was a very proud grandma!
Bonnie was loved by all who knew her and she loved everyone. She was a great example of Christlike love and service to all who knew her.
Bonnie is survived by her husband of 51 years Jim, of Salina; children: Amber and Jeremy Baker (Allessandra, Annabelle, and Amelia), of Cypress, TX; Chandler and Ashley Erdei (Breagan and Bristol), of Salina; Starli and Joby Mickelsen (Braxton, Slade, and Mia), of Salina; her sister and brother-in-law, Marsha and Paul Okerlund of Salina, and sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Mary and Ingo Henningsen of Murray, UT.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Vaneese Allred Barrett and Keith Stanley Barrett, and her sister Holly; and her parents in law, James G and Eleanor Erdei.
The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the staff and patients of Sevier Valley Dialysis and Stonehenge Care Center, both of Richfield, for the loving care they gave Bonnie in the last years of her life. She cherished the connections she made with each of you.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, October 28, 2023 at 12:00 Noon at the Salina LDS Stake Center, where friends may call for the viewing Friday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 PM or Saturday morning from 10:00-11:30 prior to the services.
Burial will be in the Salina East Side Cemetery under the care of Springer Turner Funeral Home of Richfield and Salina, Utah.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Association in Bonnie’s name.
Online guest book at: www.springerturner.com
