Obituary for Bonnie Elser | December 1, 2024

Bonnie Louise Elser, 83, of Rigby, passed away on December 1, 2024.

Bonnie was born on March 25, 1941 in Idaho Falls, Idaho, the eldest daughter of Jay Douglas Tyler and Dorothy Louise Cleverley Tyler. She grew up in the Coltman area on the family farm and attended schools there. She was a country girl through and through. She attended school in Fairview and Ucon and graduated from Bonneville High School.

In June 1960 she married Blair H. Wilkins. Four children were born from this union; B Lydell Wilkins, LaDawn Farnes, Launa L. Jenkins and Marty Wilkins. They were later divorced.

On May 19, 1989, she married W. Oral Elser in Grant, Idaho. Through this union, Bonnie had a stepson, Kyle Elser, and a stepdaughter, Wendy Flechsing. Bonnie worked as a lunch lady for District 93 schools and served as PTA president. She worked for Wright Oil and Idahoan for many years.

Bonnie was a wonderful housewife, an excellent cook and the queen of cleanliness. She was an elegant lady who loved her family unconditionally. She loved gardening and was a member of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers and the Red Hatters. She was a strong supporter of her family and grandchildren. She traveled with Oral to countless cowboy poetry gatherings. One of my favorite things to do was host family gatherings with Grandma Bonnie every summer. She enjoyed having chickens in her house and a cat or two to keep the mice away.

She was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She served in many jobs, including temple worker, Primary president, Young Women president, teacher, and Cub Scout den mother.

Bonnie is survived by her husband, W. Oral Elser of Rigby, ID; children, B Lydell (Judy) Wilkins of Rexburg, ID, daughter, LaDawn (Steve) Farnes of Kaysville, UT, daughter, Launa (Curt) Jenkins of Idaho Falls, ID, son, Marty Wilkins of Rigby, ID; stepson, Kyle A (Marie) Elser of Idaho Falls, ID; stepdaughter, Wendy (Jeff) Flechsing of Nampa, ID; sisters Carol Beth (Evan) Miner of South Jordan, UT, and JoAnn (Thomas) Haynes of Idaho Falls, ID; 16 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Douglas Tyler, her grandson Joshua J Jenkins and her granddaughter Kelsey Hurst.

The family would like to thank Trisha Martin and the staff at Alliance Hospice for their compassion and loving hands that made Bonnie’s final weeks comfortable.

Services will be held on Friday, December 6, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at Grant 1st Ward, 3431 East 100 North, Rigby, Idaho. Prior to the service, the family will visit with friends on Thursday from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. Both visits take place in the church. Burial will be in Grant Central Cemetery.

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