Bonnie Jean Elleby

Born September 3, 1940, in Marquette, a daughter of Bernard and Louise (Diedrich) Richards, Bonnie was raised in Marquette and graduated from Graveraet High School. Bonnie married Edward John “Jack” Butler and the couple made their home in Marquette. She balanced her roles of homemaker, wife, and mother, while also enrolling at Northern Michigan University. She graduated from NMU in the early 1980’s with a teaching degree in Special Education. Her teaching assignments included a part time position teaching night classes at Marquette Senior High School and also teaching artwork at the Champion School until its closure. An accident brought about her early retirement due to disability. She later married Jack Elleby and the couple made their home in Champion where they operated a small hobby farm. She loved the outdoors, especially the colors of the Fall season, doing artwork, painting, and caring for the chickens, ducks, and horses at the farm. Bonnie was known for her caring and kind nature, and for always giving good advice.

Bonnie is survived by a son, Terry Butler of Champion; a daughter-in-law, Leah Johns and mother of her grandchildren, Athena and Vanessa; step-daughters, Dawn Marie Butler of Negaunee and Alice (Paul) Reynolds of Marquette; her sister, Arlene (the late Len) Fluette; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Jack Elleby; and former husband, Edward Butler; and sons, Scott and Shawn Butler.

Honoring Bonnie’s wishes, private family services will be held at a later date.

The Swanson-Lundquist Funeral Home is serving the family, where condolences may be expressed online at swansonlundquistfuneralhome.com