Yvonne "Bonnie" Stienessen

Yvonne “Bonnie” Stienessen, age 86 of Belle Plaine, passed away peacefully on January 19, 2019 surrounded by her family at the Mayo Clinic Hospital in New Prague.  Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00 a.m. on Friday, January 25 at Our Lady of the Prairie Catholic Church in Belle Plaine, with Fr. Brian Lynch officiating.  Visitation will be from 9-11 a.m. at the church on Friday.  Interment will be at a later date in the Sts. Peter and Paul Cemetery, Belle Plaine. 

Bonnie was born on July 31, 1932 to Nicholas and Mildred (Johnson) Mootz in St. Leo, MN.  She grew up and graduated from high school in Minneota.  She then attended Northwest Institute in Minneapolis graduating as a laboratory technician.  She worked in Granite Falls Hospital and in Colorado at the Denver Resting Home. 

She married her high school sweetheart, Donald Stienessen, on September 5, 1953 in San Diego, CA where Don was stationed in the Navy.  They eventually settled in Fairmont, MN for nine years where Don worked in a bakery.  They then took a leap of faith, and moved the family to Belle Plaine where they purchased the Belle Plaine Bakery, which later became Don’s Bakery.  They successfully operated the bakery up until 1989. 

She and Don purchased a ‘fixer upper’ cabin in northern Minnesota on Loon Lake in Pequot Lakes, where they spent much of their free time.  They made their cabin quaint and enjoyed the serenity that the lake provided.

She had an affinity for finding antiques at garage sales and auctions which lead her to joining an antique store co-op in Crosby, MN that kept her busy for many years.

Bonnie was involved in her church, Our Lady of the Prairie in Belle Plaine, teaching CCD, being a chairperson, sacristan, and lecture.  She was also a den mother.  She loved finding antiques, refinishing furniture, dancing, and being with her pets especially the kitties.  Most of all, she loved her family for whom she will continue to watch over.

She is survived by her children, Dave (Vicki) of Pequot Lakes, MN, Greg of New Prague, MN, Jeff (Katie) of San Antonio, TX, Paul (Sherry) of Belle Plaine, and Jennifer (James) Busch of New Prague; grandchildren, Nick (Erica) Stienessen, Marie Stienessen, Ben Stienessen, Luke Busch, and Sarah Busch; and great-granddaughter, Olivia Stienessen.

She is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Don; and brother, Jerry.

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