Longtime Monte Vista resident Bonnie Shawcroft Hutchins, 93, passed away peacefully November 2, 2014 at the San Luis Valley Health Regional Medical Center in Alamosa.
Bonnie was born on a ranch three miles west of La Jara on July 23, 1921, the seventh child of eight to James Nathan Shawcroft and Bessie May Johnson.
She grew up in the La Jara area and attended schools there, graduating in 1939. Bonnie then attended BYU in Provo, Utah for a time.
She married Ray Hutchins in Taos, NM on November 18, 1940 and their marriage was sealed in the Salt Lake temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on October 6, 1941. They enjoyed 68 ¾ years of marriage until Ray’s death on August 12, 2009.
Bonnie was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and held numerous positions throughout her years, which included three years of ordinance work in the Denver Temple, among numerous others at the local and Stake levels.
She loved gardening and flowers, crocheting, fishing, bowling and played on a league for a time. In her younger years she loved to play sports, sing and enjoyed reading scriptures. Her most favorite time was that spent with her children and spouses, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and family members, as well as her ward family at church.
Ray and Bonnie had three children: Deanna Cropper, who died on April 19, 2010 in Troy, Missouri, Lynn R. (Dixie) Hutchins of La Jara, and Ellen (Dennis) Firkins of Greeley, CO; as well as numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren and a host of friends and family.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her daughter, her brother and sisters: Reese (Ada) Shawcroft, Inez (Earl) Jensen, Dee (Clarence) Hoyle, Maude (Leonard) Hartung, Mae (George) Wilson, Lena Shawcroft, and Pauline (Quinn) Morgan.
A visitation will be held at the Rogers Family Mortuary in Monte Vista on Thursday, November 6th from 6:00-8:00 p.m. and Friday morning, November 7th from 8:45-9:45 a.m. at the Rio Grande Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. A Funeral Service will follow the visitation at 10:00 a.m. Friday, November 7, 2014 also at the Rio Grande Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Interment will follow services in the Sanford Cemetery. Those wishing to contribute may make donations to the Rio Grande Ward LDS Church Missionary Fund, 1536 Sickles Street, Monte Vista, CO 81144.