Bonnie Jean Riedinger, 78

Bonnie Jean Riedinger, 78, of Kalispell, passed away on Sunday, Oct. 10, 2021, at Brendan House in Kalispell.

Bonnie was born Jan. 21, 1943, in Boise, Idaho to Arthur and Jane. Her family moved to the Flathead Valley in December 1949. She attended schools in Martin City, Columbia Falls and Kalispell. In Kalispell, she married George W. Bland Jr. and they had two sons, George Bland and Anthony (Tony) Bland. They divorced shortly after the boys were born. Bonnie then met and married Harold John Oftedahl and for many years they remained together raising the two boys.

In 2003, Bonnie joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She married Stan Flagg, in the Temple on April 17, 2004. During this marriage Bonnie also took loving care of her mother who was in the Lutheran Home. She was a wonderful, attentive daughter and made her mother’s last year’s most enjoyable.

After a few years, Bonnie and Stan divorced. However, she returned to his home to take care of him. She also worked in Whitefish caring for an elderly lady where they developed a wonderful friendship or more of a mutual admiration society for about five years until the lady passed away.

Above all else, Bonnie loved her family. She was so proud of her sons and her grandchildren. She would do anything to help her brothers, sisters, her mother, as well as her many nieces, nephews and their children.

Bonnie was an excellent homemaker who delighted in decorating for the holidays and cooking lots of goodies, great meals to have family and friends over to share them with. She also took in several women in need of a place to stay. She had a very large heart and wanted to help anyone who needed it.

She had a natural artistic talent. She loved to paint pictures and draw as well as create many different crafts which she often sold or gave away. Over the years she was commissioned by local stores to paint artwork on their windows for the holidays and various sales events.

She loved her little dogs and missed them dearly every day she spent in Brendon House.

Bonnie was preceded in death by her father Art in 1952; her mother Jane in 2006; a brother Richard in 2016; a brother-in-law Ted in 2021; sister-in-law Melanie in 2021 and one great-grandchild JayLee.

She is survived by her partner Paul Stanley Flagg; her two boys, George and Desiree Bland of Kalispell and Tony Bland and Vicky of Las Vegas; three granddaughters, Christina, Kimberly, and Shawna; one grandson, Andrew and 10 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her two sisters, Pat Swanberg of Utah and JoAnn Oftedahl of Kalispell, two brothers, Art Riedinger of Washington and Mike Riedinger of Kalispell and many nieces and nephews who adored her. She showed each of them how much she cared about them, remembering their birthdays and special events. She most certainly will be missed. Until we meet again … we love you Bonnie.

A graveside service will be held Thursday, Oct. 21, at 2 p.m. at CE Conrad Cemetery. Next summer we will have a celebration of life.