Bonnie Ritter Obituary

Bonnie Ritter, age 75, of Detroit Lakes, MN, passed away on Saturday, June 7, 2025, at Essentia Health Hospital in Fargo, ND.

Memorial services will be held on Saturday, June 14, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Graceville, MN. Visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the church on Saturday. Deacon Paul Treinen will officiate, and inurnment will be at Graceville Consolidated Cemetery.

The service will be livestreamed and recorded and will be viewable at the bottom of this obituary.

Bonnie Rose (Murray) Ritter was born on March 17, 1950, in Graceville, MN, to parents, Donald and Lulabelle (Hormann) Murray. She brought light and warmth into every space she entered. A woman of compassion, great resilience, and boundless generosity, she dedicated her life to always being there for others.

In 1967, Bonnie was united in marriage with James “Jim” Ritter and together, they started a beautiful life. They were blessed with four wonderful children: Jeff, Tammy, Kim, and Shaun.

Bonnie’s life was a beautiful testament to the power of her love and kindness. She ran a daycare business for over four decades, shaping the lives of countless children with her gentle guidance and open heart. Known for her nurturing spirit, Bonnie provided more than just care – she offered comfort, stability, and a sense of home to everyone who walked through her door. She also had a deep love for flowers. Her garden was a reflection of her spirit: vibrant, bountiful, and always blooming with beauty.

Life’s simple things brought Bonnie great joy. She helped the people in her life selflessly and with compassion. Bonnie’s home was often filled with laughter, melodies, and the comforting aroma of something delicious cooking in the kitchen.

Bonnie always made everyone feel like they mattered. She gave her love generously and helped without hesitation. Whether it was a listening ear, a home-cooked meal, or simply her quiet presence, Bonnie offered what was needed and always with grace.

Bonnie leaves behind a legacy of kindness that will live on in the hearts of all who knew her. She will be forever missed and endlessly remember by her children: Jeff Ritter, Tammy (Rick) Ness, Kim (Kirk) Ritter, and Shaun (Elienette) Ritter; her grandchildren; great-grandchildren; a great-great-grandchild; and her brothers: Dave (Julie) Murray, Danny (Barb) Murray, Dennis (Linda) Murray, and Dean (Mary) Murray.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Jim Ritter; her mother, Lulabelle Murray; her father and step-mother, Donald and Patsy Murray; and daughter-in-law, Kristi Ritter.

Bonnie, you were truly one-of-a-kind and we will miss you so very much.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you honor Bonnie’s memory by showing an act of kindness to someone in need.

The service will be livestreamed and recorded and will be viewable at the bottom of this page. Our mission is to deliver the highest quality shared video experience for visitors to our website. However, there may be instances when network issues arise, causing the livestream to be unavailable. In such cases, we are promptly alerted and work to resolve the problem. If we are unable to restore the livestream, a recorded version of the service will be made available for viewing at any time on our website.