Bonnie L. Rodriguez   (Buckley)

Passed on March 14th, 2025

    After a decade-long battle with end stage COPD (including 3 lengthy home hospice stints), Bonnie passed away peacefully in the arms of the love of her life (for 49 years) Dan Buche. Bonnie was born and raised on St Paul’s East Side. Bonnie attended Central High School, and later the University of Minnesota.

    Bonnie worked as a buyer for Stillwater Prison, and later as a Records Mgmt. Manager for the state of MN. For most of her adult life Bonnie battled serious medical issues, forcing her into early retirement in 2004.

    Bonnie acquired skills in electricity, carpentry, and plumbing out of necessity; as a very young (20s) woman, she astounded local tradesmen by personally renovating her entire house. Bonnie had a vision of the family home she wanted for her loved ones, and nothing was going to prevent that from happening. While working more then one job and having kids at home, she still managed to rewire the entire house, replace a bulk of the plumbing, built new cabinetry, and reconfigured the 'entire' floor plan all together. Bonnie had many remarkable talents and attributes. But it was her natural attention to detail, and industrious nature that really made them shine.    

    As a child, Bonnie enjoyed spending summers at the family cabin on Mule Lake. Years later, she purchased her own heavily wooded lot (“is there even a lake down there?”) which she diligently managed to clear.  While assiduously building the family cabin on Wood Lake, she stayed in a converted yellow school bus -earning herself the affectionate nickname "the bus lady".  Bonnie cherished her family and nothing brought her greater joy than spending time with them, especially during the holidays and the family time at the lake. Bonnie and side-kick 'kookie' (family dog), enjoyed and treasured every moment with all the grand-kids at the lake. Bonnie’s love for MN lake country ran deep, as she was known for taking the "mic" at public hearings to loudly protest the environmental hazards of Pipeline 3.

     Bonnie and Dan’s retirement dream became a reality when they purchased a home on Smokey Hollow Lake in northern MN.  Wintering in their condo in Puerto Aventuras MX – kicking back on the white sand beaches, whilst luxuriating in the cool pristine waters of the turquoise Caribbean.

 "Bonnie was intelligent, resourceful, loving, strong-willed, and a 'bodaciously beautiful redhead' ...and a handful to the end ....and then she was at peace."  Dan Buche 

Bonnie's final journey to reunite with loved ones who passed before her; Herbert and Ruth Buckley, brother Dick, son Adam, and special Godmother Maretta Ashford.

Bonnie is survived by her beloved Dan Buche, children; Tim (Joyce), Kim "Sissy" Mapson (Floyd), Mystelle (David), Sharriah Armstrong (Jim), including sons Micheal & David Jr.

Grandchildren & (great-grandchildren); Cortany (Eddie), Brittany Gulbransen ‘Brent’ (Logan, Lukas, Liam), Alex Mapson ‘Brittainy’ (Calvin, Keira), Armstrongs; Cooper, Charlotte "Lottie", Lochlan.  Cassie K Marhoun ‘Shawn’ (Mia "Milo", Zane, Freya), Jessica ‘Nick’ (Chelsea, Savanah, Carter, & Bradley), Tim "Doc" (Mallory, Oliver “Ollie”), Chelsea Eldridge ‘Adam’ (Marley, Eli), Sherry (Arianna, Malayna, Naomi, Sophia, Jeremiah) Josh.

Loyal companion: Bonnie and Dan's little pup "Lily."  

Bonnie has bequeathed her body to the University of Minnesota for scientific research.    

 Please join us as we gather together for Bonnie's Celebration of Life , June 8th 2025.  Carver Park Lake & Beach (2pm-6pm). Kindly visit the event page here for further details & info. 

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