Beloved wife, mother, sister and friend, Betty Jean Bonzey, of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, passed away Oct. 26, 2020. She was born June 8, 1940, in Chico, Calif., to Arthur and Ruth Boggs.

Betty grew up in Vacaville, Calif. with her younger sister, Sharon. She graduated from Vacaville High School in 1958 and continued to Diablo Valley College, where she achieved an A.A. degree in business. Betty moved to Eureka, Calif., where she was employed with AAA Travel. It was here that she met her husband, John (“Jack”) Bonzey from Auburn, Mass. They married on April 2, 1966, in Vacaville, and passed through Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, on their honeymoon trip to British Columbia. They decided eventually they would retire here. Betty and Jack celebrated their 54th wedding anniversary this year.

In August 1967, their only child, Michelle, was born. The Bonzey family made their home in Hydesville, Calif., where Jack was a civil engineer for Departments of Transportation (Cal Trans) and Betty became a teacher’s aide at Hydesville Elementary School. There she was able to keep tabs on Michelle!

Betty was a 4-H leader, a member of the Order of Eastern Star, Fortuna Garden Club, and Humboldt District Garden Club. She was an avid hockey fan of the Tampa Bay Lightning, following local player, Tyler Johnson, and it was extra special this year for her as they won the Stanley Cup!

Betty was an avid gardener and loved flower arranging. She became president of the Humboldt District Garden Club. The accomplishment she was most proud of was the designing and dedicating of the Blue Star Memorial Rest Area at the south entrance to Trinidad, Calif.

After retirement, Betty and Jack did make their way to Kootenai County. They built and enjoyed operating the beautiful log Ponderosa Bed and Breakfast in Athol for 13 years.

In 2009 they sold the Ponderosa and moved to the city of Coeur d’Alene. Soon after the move, Betty was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. She fought a courageous battle for almost a decade. Her family is so proud of her positive attitude and the concern she had for others at all times.

Betty is survived by her husband, Jack; her daughter, Michelle (Cato) Livingston of Coeur d’Alene; sister, Sharon (John) Ryan of Boothbay, Maine; her nieces and nephews and her very special friends that made her life complete: Theresa Machado, Bob Burton, Lyn LaPlante, Mary Lou Goodwin, the Sweens, and the Wurmlingers. Loved by all, Betty will be happily remembered and so sadly missed.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

The family would like to thank AFS Health Care and Hospice of North Idaho for their wonderful care of Betty.

Private services will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Hospice of North Idaho Schneidmiller Hospice House or MD Andersen.

You may share your memories of Betty and sign her guest book at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com. Yates Funeral Home has been entrusted with final arrangements.