On July 12, 2024, Bonita “Bonnie” Kay Cartwright, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family just one month and one day after her gall bladder/liver cancer diagnosis.
Bonita Kay Gruenhagen was born September 10, 1951, in Conrad, MT to her parents, Maxine Depner and Arthur (Bud) Gruenhagen. She grew up in Great Falls and enjoyed visiting her grandmother and grandfather, Martha and John Depner, in Choteau. Some of her favorite childhood memories were of playing with her cousins.
On October 1, 1977, she married the love of her life, James “Jim” Lee Cartwright. They were blessed with their four beautiful daughters, Wendy Kay, Carrie Lee, Crystal Gayle, and Jamie Marie. Jim and Bonnie spent a lifetime building memories with their children going camping and fishing, yearly trips through Glacier Park, trips to Kalispell to visit family, and hosting family functions, always excited for a birthday or next get together. She enjoyed dancing at weddings and the kids’ Moose Lodge dances.
Bonnie was strong in her faith and serving others and her community. She was extremely gifted in her ability to nurture and care for others. She worked as a CNA at Cascade County Nursing Home, Missouri River Manor, and then worked taking care of the Nuns at the Ursuline Center before she retired. Bonnie recruited her family to serve at the Ursuline Center Mother’s Day Breakfast fundraiser. She had a huge heart and together, Bonnie and Jim, were always helping others as they were always first in line to help out.
She loved attending the races and was a huge fan of Zach, her son-in-law. “Grandma and Papa” always were the sponsors on his race car. She was the most amazing cook, and everyone would fight over her “Pudge” Chocolate Sheet Cake Brownies, sugar cookies, pumpkin rolls and Fudge, along with the most amazing stuffing/dressing. She loved baking with Emery, together sharing her recipes and treasured her closeness and their special bond while creating memories. She adored all her sons-in-law, Bobby, Zach, and Ricky saying they took amazing care of her daughters and loved her video chats with daughter Crystal and grandkids.
Bonnie would always say her greatest achievement in life was her beautiful family. She adored her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, four generations, and beamed with pride as she bragged about them. You could always count on Grandma and Papa to be at every game. They attended basketball, football, hockey, volleyball, baseball, and softball games of all their grandkids. Grandma Bonnie was their loudest cheerleader and their biggest fan. She loved the KC Chiefs and rarely missed Monday night football and loved listening to Alan Jackson.
If you were blessed to know Bonnie, you were forever extended family to her as she embraced everyone as family. She loved her mochas and morning breakfast dates with Dad “Jim” and enjoyed sitting on their patio looking at her beautiful flowers and listening and watching “her” birds. Her daughters used to joke that nothing messes with her weekly dinner “Marilyn Night” with her friend, Marilyn.
Bonnie had a knack for listening to others and giving loved ones the best advice, as she was never afraid to speak her mind and let you know what she thought. That is what everyone loved about her and especially her spirit and dedication to her family and friends. She was an amazing friend and will forever be missed.
Bonnie is survived by her husband and forever love, Jim; their daughters, Wendy (Bob) Garner of Fairfield, Carrie (Ricky) Plasterer of Laurel, Crystal Lizardi-Cartwright of Mexico, and Jamie (Zach) Olson of Great Falls, MT, brothers, Ken (Patricia) Gruenhagen of Stevensville, David (Linda) Gruenhagen of Oregon, and her baby brother, Lonnie; grandchildren, Kayla (Ethan) Giles, Aiden Garner, Kaylee, Brayden, and Emery Olson, Selena Santiago, Felix, Sophia, and Camila Lizardi-Cartwright; great grandchildren, Wilson, Reagan, Anna Lee, Eliza and Hannah Giles; along with several nieces and nephews; and her special granddogs, Oliver and Molly Plasterer.
She was preceded in death by her mom and “Bud;” brother, Danny Bateman; sister, Martha “Marty” Bruno; brother-in-law, Albert Bruno; grandparents, John and Martha Depner; mother-in-law, “Grandma Hubbard” Mary Jones; sister-in-law/brother-in-law, Joyce and Jerry Belstad; nephews, Bobby MacDonald and Jer Belstad; Aunt Betty Wilkerson and Uncle Don Depner and his wife, Joyce Depner; and a great-grandson, who she is finally able to meet in Heaven.
Her service is scheduled for Saturday, July 27, 2024, 10:00 AM at Hillcrest Lawn Memorial Chapel, 1410 13th Street South, Great Falls, followed by burial at 1:00 PM at Choteau Cemetery, Choteau.
While our hearts are broken with deep sorrow, Soar high above with the Angels beautiful Mama. We love you and miss you already.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Ursuline Center of Great Falls. Condolences for the family may be shared online at www.OConnorFuneralHome.com.
Author: Staff
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