Bonnie Porterfield, 82, Custer, died Tuesday, March 15, 2011, at Sturgis Senior Care.
Lavonne Pearl "Bonnie" Floyd was born Nov. 25, 1928 at Kennebec to George and Essie Floyd. She had a brother Donnie and a sister Arlene. Bonnie lived in Kennebec throughout her childhood, graduating from Kennebec High School in 1946.
In 1947, she married Jack Porterfield of Lyman. They had five children; Sheila, Randy, Elayne, Larry and Marty. The Porterfields lived in Lyman for many years. Along with Jack's parents Audery and Lillie Porterfield, they operated the Lyman Store and Gas Station and Porterfield Trucking. Bonnie also worked in Kennebec as a legal secretary for M.Q. Sharpe and John Larsen. In 1966, the Porterfields moved to Deadwood. The family relocated to Medicine Bow, Wyo. in 1970, where they owned and operated the Bow Lodge and the Porterfield Cafe. After seven years in Wyoming, the Porterfields moved to Custer, where they owned and operated the historic Kleeman House. In later years, Bonnie cooked in many of the cafes in Custer. She also got her real estate license and worked at Donahue Realty.
Bonnie was an accomplished seamstress who made many beautiful quilts. If Bonnie gave you one of her quilts, you had a special place in her heart. She loved to sing, dance and have fun. She was the first woman in Lawrence County to get a motorcycle license, which was still valid at the time of her death. She was a proud member of the Republican Party and the VFW Ladies Auxiliary. She was most proud of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Bonnie is survived by her children, Sheila Kindt of Custer, Randy (Leslie) Porterfield of Oklahoma City and Saudi Arabia, Elayne (Nick) Rowe of Newcastle, Wyo., Larry Porterfield of Sturgis, and Marty (Lynda) Porterfield of Osage, Wyo.; her grandchildren, Michael Kindt, Brandi Shannon, Chris Jones, Zach Porterfield, Caitlin Johnston, Simon Baumkratz, Ara Baumkratz, Daniel Porterfield, Brit Porterfield and Chase Porterfield; nine great-grandsons, Hadrian Kindt, Chastin Kindt, Harris Jones, Ethan O'Keeffe, Jack Baumkratz, Jordan Baumkratz, Jaxon Porterfield, Wyatt Porterfield and Owen Porterfield; a great-granddaughter, Maylie Baumkratz; and her sister, Arlene Wolfenden of Clovis, N.M.
Bonnie was preceded in death by her husband, Jack Porterfield and her brother, Donnie Floyd.