Bonita Spicer

Major Bonita J. Spicer (R), 84, of Crystal Falls, MI, was "Promoted To Glory" Friday, April 20, 2018 at the Iron County Medical Care Facility in Crystal Falls. She was born August 9, 1933 in Chicago, IL, daughter of the late Herbert and Ellen (Westberg) Pitcher.

Mom, Grandma, Great Grandma, Major Bonita Jean Spicer (R) was born to a family of Swedish immigrants in Chicago. Bonnie entered The Salvation Army Training College in Chicago and was commissioned and appointed to the Superior Wisconsin Corps where she met and married Ralph Spicer. They were sent to command The Salvation Army's Mandan, North Dakota Corps where William was born. The next stop was Jamestown, North Dakota where Curtis entered the world. Bonnie and Ralph were then sent south to Columbia, Missouri where Scott completed the family.

Mom passed on her love for singing to the three boys and Dad took on the role of teaching everyone to sing in harmony and to blend our voices. The first song we learned to sing together was "Lord Build Me a Cabin in the Corner of Gloryland". This song became part of our identity and was forever etched into the joyful and difficult times of our lives.

Bonnie shared her love of singing and of Jesus with hundreds of children through her ministry with The Salvation Army. Decades later, adults who learned choruses from mom retell how much she meant to them and still remember the songs and the love of Jesus that flowed through her to them.

Ralph was Promoted To Glory just two days before turning 59 years of age and Bonnie began a new chapter in her life by being an amazing Grandma. She never missed a chance to steal the grandkids away for a Wal-Mart "adventure" capped off with a McDonald's Happy Meal. It was all part of loving and spoiling her grandchildren. Through the fun and mischief, she never stopped reminding them and their parents that they were special gifts from God and that Jesus loved them.

Our mom was an amazing woman of God and we never will realize the burdens she carried in the deepest secret places of her soul especially toward the end. God knew and God loved her. Mom had a favorite saying that was plastered all over our home from our very earliest memories to the day we packed her things for the final time. "Bloom Where You Are Planted". We used to make fun of her and tease her about this little phrase, but as we grew and watched her face some of the most difficult challenges imaginable. We watched this wonderful woman LIVE this little phrase with grace, humility, strength and rock solid faith. One of her grandchildren put it perfectly. "The world lost a woman too sweet for its darkness. Grandma will never be forgotten.

Bonita is survived by her 3 sons, William (Carla) Spicer of Rhinelander, WI., Curt (Cheryle) Spicer of Crystal Falls, MI, and Scott (Lisa) Spicer of Eau Claire, WI; 10 grandchildren; 18 great grandchildren; and 1 great-great granddaughter.

She was preceded in death by 4 brothers and 2 sisters.

Visitation will be held from 12:00 to 2:00 Saturday, April 28, 2018 at the Parker Kohl Funeral Home, 1725 Lyndale Ave. N., Faribault, MN. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 at the Parker Kohl Funeral Home. Majors Daniel and Rebecca Sjogren will officiate. Burial will be in the Maple Lawn Cemetery in Faribault, MN.

Please share your memories and stories of Bonnie (Mom) with Bill, Curt or Scott on Facebook, email, instant message or by cards and letters. We want her grandchildren to know who she was before Alzheimer's. Condolences may be expressed online to the family of Major Bonita J. Spicer (R) at www.nashfuneralhome.net or www.parkerkohlfuneralhome.com

The family has entrusted their wonderful friends at Nash Funeral Home of Crystal Falls, MI with the arrangements.