Obituary/Bonnie Rae (McNatton) Carlson, 80

Bonnie Rae (McNatton) Carlson, 80, formerly of Halma and Stephen, Minnesota, died under hospice care at Valley Care and Rehab in Barnesville, Minnesota on February 17, 2026.

Bonnie was born in Des Moines, Iowa on October 1, 1945 to Russell I. McNatton and Marion H. (Smith) McNatton. She was raised in Halma by her mother Marion and her stepfather Henry O. Johnson. Bonnie attended elementary school in Halma and high school in Karlstad, Minnesota.  Growing up, she enjoyed ice skating in the winter and swimming at Lake Bronson, where she eventually was a lifeguard and taught swimming lessons. She also developed an enduring passion for music which she carried through her entire life. In her final days, classical music softly played on an iPad by her bedside.

In July 1963, Bonnie married Wayne W. Carlson of Stephen, Minnesota.  They settled in Stephen and shortly thereafter left Minnesota for Kirkland, Washington. After a few years in Washington, they moved back to Stephen where they raised their two sons, Wayne Jr. and Erik. Bonnie played a vital role in supporting the family farm, from cooking and delivering meals, operating tractors and equipment, and hauling grain and sugar beets. There was also time for fun, including ski trips, fishing, snowmobiling, and most of all, visiting friends and family.

While her sons were in high school, Bonnie began commuting to the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks and ultimately received her bachelor degree in Social Work. After Bonnie and Wayne divorced, she spent time in the Minneapolis, Minnesota metro area and in Florida, eventually settling in Dilworth, Minnesota. In August 2007, Bonnie sustained a severe stroke resulting in left-side paralysis. One of her treating physicians predicted she would not live for more than six months. He did not know how resilient she was. She soldiered on, living in a group home in Fergus Falls, Minnesota and later in St. Williams Living Center in Parkers Prairie, Minnesota. Fortunately, her memories of good times with friends and family remained intact after her stroke and helped sustain her through her later years. In January 2026 she developed respiratory failure which ultimately led to her death.

Bonnie is survived by her sons Wayne Jr. (GeriLynn) of Fargo, ND and Erik (Charles Feldman) of West Hollywood, CA; her brother Duane McNatton of Minneapolis, MN; and her three granddaughters, Lydia Carlson of Colorado Springs, CO, Claire Carlson of Duluth, MN, and Alice Carlson of Minneapolis, MN.  She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Dean McNatton, her stepbrothers Lyndon and Marvin Johnson, and her stepsister Lola (Johnson) Germundson.

A private memorial service will occur at a later date.  Bonnie’s ashes will be spread among family at the Halma cemetery in accordance with her wishes.

Collins Funeral Homes, Inc in charge of arrangements.