Bonnie Brynteson Obituary

In Loving Memory of Bonnie Arlene Brynteson
A much-loved wife, mother, aunt, grandmother, great-grandmother, daughter, and sister, Bonnie Arlene Brynteson (Nelson), 85, of Warroad, MN, passed away peacefully at her home on June 23, 2025, in the loving care of her two daughters.
Bonnie previously lived in Riverton, Manitoba, Mercedes, Texas, Minnesota, and South Dakota, and had bravely fought cancer for over ten years. She was born on September 20, 1939, at St.
Luke's Hospital in Duluth, MN.
Bonnie often spoke of her salvation experience. She became a believer in Jesus at a Bible camp when she was about nine years old. Her grandmother, Florence Alice Nelson, prayed for her and made Bonnie's father, G.R. Nelson, promise to dedicate Bonnie in the church and ensure she attended Sunday school. Bonnie developed a deep relationship with the Lord and steadfastly sought His will. Although naturally bashful, she created a gospel tract and wrote her testimony to hand out to those she felt led to share the love of Christ with.
Bonnie's grandparents, parents, and brother all passed away in their 50s, and she often wondered if the same would be true for her. But she held onto the promise in Scripture: that if she honored her father and mother, she would enjoy long life.
Bonnie graduated from Denfeld High School in 1958. She excelled in art and was the first student to have a personal art display at the school. She also lettered in music, singing in the choir and playing the French horn in both the band and orchestra. Bonnie won a baby beauty contest, and as a teen, her mother entered her in the Miss Duluth Pageant, where she received the Miss Congeniality award. She also loved writing poetry.
Her first job after high school was as a receptionist for an optometrist. Soon after, Bonnie moved to Bloomington, MN, where she attended Bethany Fellowship Missionary Training Center and received a three-year Bible Certificate in 1963. Living on campus, she worked in Bethany House Publishers' paste-up department and sang alto and soprano in the Bethany Choir.
At Bethany, Bonnie met her beloved husband, Donald Richard Brynteson of Montevideo, Minnesota, and shortly after graduation, they were married in Duluth, MN, on August 17, 1963. Their first pastoral assignment was at a Lutheran church in the small town of Vale, South
Dakota, followed by ministry to rural ranch families at Prairie Home and Opal Community Churches. All four of their children were born during their years in South Dakota.
After nearly a decade on the prairies, Don and Bonnie returned to Minnesota to serve with Daystar Ministries on Leech Lake, then moved to the Rio Grande Valley in South Texas in the summer of 1974. Don and Bonnie often quoted Hebrews 11:8: 'By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.' That verse described their life walking by faith and seeking God's will.
Following a short stay at Daystar's Harmony Hill extension ministry north of Mercedes, they accepted a pastoral call to the Mercedes Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in 1975. They faithfully pastored there for 33 years. Upon retirement, they moved to Riverton, Manitoba, where they accepted their final pastoral post at Riverton Gospel Chapel.
Throughout her life, Bonnie excelled at homemaking and was a devoted wife and mother. She served her family and community alongside Don in countless ways. She was a school board member at Immanuel Lutheran School, a board member for the RGV Food Bank, and the founder and president of the Baskets Full Food Pantry in Mercedes, Texas. Bonnie led Brownie and Girl Scout troops, served as a Tiger Band Booster photographer, and was a former McAllen Women's Aglow chapter president. She also led Sunday school classes, Bible studies, worship, and Vacation Bible School programs. Her love of hospitality was well known; her table settings were legendary at women's teas and church socials, and her home was always open to those in need. She was a member of Gideons International, joined Toastmasters in Canada, and officially became an Ordained Minister in 2020 shortly before moving to the Warroad Senior Living Center.
Bonnie's creativity was a gift to many. She had an extensive collection of clip art and craft supplies, always ready to bless someone with a handmade creation. Her gifts extended to media ministry; she and her family appeared on local Christian television in the Rio Grande Valley and sang with her family on KVMV radio multiple times. She taught her children to sing and harmonize, passing on her love for music.
Bonnie's creativity also shone through her clown ministry, where her characters, B.B. the Clown, Flowers the Clown, and Arlene Nelson, brought joy to children and adults alike at libraries, schools, birthday parties, career fairs, parades, and church events.
She aspired to be a published author and took many writing courses throughout her life. Her poems were published in various collections, and her inspirational testimonies appeared in a booklet titled 'God's Stories.'
Bonnie is preceded in death by her husband of 50 years, Donald, brother Douglas Nelson, and parents Gilbert R. Nelson and Signe Angeline Nelson. She is survived by her half-sister, Gwendolyn R. Meyer, and Bonnie's four children; Richard John Brynteson (Deborah) of Colorado and their children, Eythan (Hannah) and Emilie; Randall James Brynteson, (Debbie) of Minnesota, and their daughter Chloe; Ruth Arlene Joy Dyck (Brian) of Canada and their children, Nathan, Jeremy (Kaleigh), Joel Ranes (Nahanni), Jessica Penner (Clifford), Curtis (Anne) and great-grand son Ole; Rachel Aileen Jo Lovestrand-Audagnotti (Gavin) of Texas, and their children Ginger and Gustav.
Bonnie fought a feisty, good fight. Her mind and sense of humor remained sharp and joyful until her final breath. She kept the faith and finished the race. One of her favorite sayings,
remembered from a small plaque on her grandmother's dresser, was: 'Only one life, 'twill soon
be past; only what's done for Christ will last.'
A Memorial Service will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, at the Warroad Senior Center Lodge, 1401 Lake St NW.
Visitation will begin at 1:30 p.m., the service will start at 2:00 p.m., followed by refreshments.
Additional memorial services will be arranged in Canada on July 12 and in Texas (date and time to be determined).
Instead of flowers, donations may be made to: Warroad Community Church, 114 Virginia Ave NE, Warroad, MN 56763.
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