Bonnie M. Rediske's Obituary
Bonnie M. Rediske
Bonnie was born on March 18, 1928, on the kitchen table of the family home outside of Tioga, North Dakota. Along with her older sister Alma and parents Alpha and Lars Heen, she soon moved to Alexander, and finally to Tacoma, Washington in 1943. She graduated from Lincoln High School, and then Pacific Lutheran College, with a degree in education. A rather shy red-haired beauty, she caught the eye of a decidedly more outgoing young man at PLC, Jim Rediske. Their romance was swift, and enduring. The young married couple were hired as teachers in the Clover Park School District, where Jim became the first principal at Idlewild Elementary, and Bonnie the District's Spanish teacher. Three children within 30 months interrupted her career, and when she returned to teaching, it was as the Spanish teacher on the new television station, KPEC-56. Students throughout the District's elementary schools were soon repeating "Como esta usted?" upon her prompting. She later taught Spanish at Clover Park and Lakes High Schools, which produced a lifetime of comments to her three boys: "Your mom was the best!" Among many talents, great cooking was a highlight for her family. Especially her mastery of Norwegian cooking (lefse!) in celebration of her heritage. Tragedy struck in 1982, when her romance was interrupted with the death of Jim from leukemia after a failed bone marrow transplant. Thirty-four years later, on October 4, 2016, Bonnie was finally able to rekindle her romance with Jim after she settled into her rocker one last time before joining him. Bonnie's youngest son, Curt, preceded her in death. She is survived by her loving sons Greg (Sharon) and Jeff (Paula), along with 6 grandchildren (Lina (Jerrod), Carl (Sarah), Shawn (Amanda), Brandon (Nicole), Lars and Noah), 6 great grandchildren, her sister Alma (Norris) and a multitude of nieces and nephews who adored her. After family, her faith and her church were central to her being. A memorial service will be held on Thursday, October 13, at 2:30 p.m. at the church she and Jim helped found in 1958, Christ Lutheran Church in Lakewood. Remembrances can be made to Christ Lutheran Church, or the Lakewood Community Foundation Fund. Many thanks to Heartwarming Care, especially Diane and Faith, for 6-1/2 years of caring for our mom.
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