“What is your name?” and “What is your date of birth?”  We do not know how many times Bonnie had to answer those two questions during her six-month struggle with lung cancer that finally took her life on February 13, 2021.  As her surviving and loving family, we will answer…

Her name is Bonnie Alice Sutter.  She was born in Beatrice, Nebraska on June 27, 1942 to Louis Paul and Alma Ida Nies of Ellis, Nebraska.  Her younger days were spent on a farm near Barneston, Nebraska.  She graduated from Barneston High School in 1959.  She moved to Beatrice, Nebraska after graduation.  In 1960, she was selected amongst 32 contestants to reign over Beatrice’s Silver Days as the Silver Dollar Queen.  In a proud moment as Queen, she danced with world-renowned big band leader Guy Lombardo.  While in Beatrice, she lived with her aunt and uncle, Erna and Cliff Saville, studied and apprenticed at Evelyn's Beauty Salon obtaining her Cosmetology License in 1961.  After a move to Lincoln to be near her high school sweetheart and the love of her life, Ronald Gene Sutter, she was employed as a receptionist and music room operator at the University of Nebraska Student Union. 

On June 10, 1962 at the United Methodist Church in Wymore, she married Ron.  She then moved on to employment with the Nebraska Press Association until she and her husband moved to Kearney, Nebraska, where Ron commenced his law practice. In Kearney, she gave birth to her son Jason.  In April of 1965, she and Ron moved to Beatrice and it was there that her daughter Jill and her son Jarod were born.  She was employed at Beno’s Dress Shop and other clothing stores, volunteered at the Bargain Box, and then became the telephone receptionist and teller at Beatrice National Bank, later Pinnacle Bank, until she retired in 2009.  Her hobbies included attending her children’s and grandchildren’s activities, traveling, cooking, Facebook, and catching good movies.

She is survived by her husband Ronald and her three loving children, Jason Bradley Sutter (Gail) of Beatrice, Jill Christine Zimmerman (Kent) of Beatrice, and Jarod William Sutter (Stephanie) of Elkhorn, NE; five grandchildren, Neely Sutter of Chicago, IL, Torian Sutter of Lincoln, NE, Joscelyn Zimmerman of Beatrice, Zackary Zimmerman of Beatrice, and KayLee Flower of Berlin, Germany; two sisters, Betty Malicky (Jack) of Beatrice and Margie Higgins (Gary) of Beatrice; nephew Ben Nies (son of Robert) of Beatrice and many other nieces and nephews she loved dearly.  She was preceded in death by her parents Louis and Alma Nies and brother Robert Nies.

She leaves behind many friends and wonderful memories.  We are all going to miss her.  She was a special lady.

Private Family Funeral 10:30 AM, Wednesday, February 17, 2021 at First Presbyterian Church in Beatrice, NE with Pastor Zac Wolfe officiating. The service will be live-streamed on First Presbyterian Church’s YouTube channel, https://youtube.com/channel/UCB3y1vKW0CHCmWaKXcVBhRQ. The link is also located on the bottom of her webpage.  

No public visitation but a guestbook is available at www.wherrymortuary.com.

Interment will be at Evergreen Home Cemetery, Beatrice, Nebraska. 

A Celebration of Life services for family and friends to remember Bonnie, will be held Sunday, June 27, 2021 at the Vintage Venue, Beatrice, NE.  More details will be posted to social media and Wherry Mortuary’s Website at a later date.

Memorials are suggested to the Beatrice Educational Foundation Scholarship Fund in Bonnie’s name.

Services entrusted to Wherry Mortuary, Tecumseh, Nebraska.