Bonnie J. Heetland

Bonnie J. Heetland - age 86, of Laurens passed away December 29, 2009, in Bakersfield, CA. Bonnie June Erskine was born on June 22, 1923 in Barada, NE. She was the daughter of Charles and Iva (Ham) Erskine. She graduated from Benson High School in Omaha, NE. In 1942, Bonnie traveled to Los Angeles to work at Lockheed Aircraft, being a real "Rosie the Riveter". It was there that Bonnie met Ed Heetland. The couple were Married February 27, 1943, in the Wilshire Wedding chapel in Los Angeles. During the war Ed served in the Army Air Corps and Bonnie returned to Omaha where she worked at the Martin Bomber Plant. In 1952, the couple moved to Laurens where Ed worked as Light Plant Superintendent. In 1955, they started Heetland Electric, Bonnie worked as secretary and receptionist as well as out of town gofer, which she loved because she could go shopping while picking up supplies. In 1967, she opened Bonnie's Shop For Children, featuring the latest fashions for kids. Bonnie and Ed built several homes, one of which was the first all electric home in the Midwest. Bonnie enjoyed decorating it and giving tours to people from all over the world. The last project Ed & Bonnie worked on was the Homestead housing project which she moved into in 2004. Ed passed away in 2000. Bonnie was a member of the United Methodist Church and the UMW. She loved to travel and do genealogy research. Survivors include her children, Carol Lynn (Art) Montsinger of Bakersfield, CA; Lonnie D. (Julie) Heetland of Warsaw, MO; and Cathy J. Rouse of Anaheim, CA; five grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and sisters, Dorothy Ormsby of Rolfe; Virginia Miller of Opheim, MT and Ruth (Ed) Maddox of Laurens. Bonnie was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Ed; one grandson; sister, a Frances Scheicher and brothers, Charles, James and Thomas Erskin.