Bernard Ansell Bonstrom

  Research Notes:

Bernard Ansell/Anselm Bonstrom b 21 Mar 1881 at Buffalo; died 13 Jun 1952 at Cokato
married: 15 Sep 1904; to Alice Maria Swenson b 22 Jun 1884 at Nicollet Co, MN; died 23 Jan 1953 at Cokato *
* Primary FT records name as Mary Alice Swanson and that she was born at Alfsborg Twp, Sibley Co, MN
1910 US, Buffalo, Wright Co; ED201; sheet 2B; fam/dw 39
Bernard A Bonstrom, age 29; married 5 years; bank cashier
wife Alice M age 25; mother of no children
then Axel E Bonstrom, brother, age 17
1920 US, Buffalo, Wright Co; ED84; sheet 2B; fam/dw 50/52
Bernard and Alice; he is a bank cashier
son, Everett, age 8 b in MN
dau Alatheia, age 1 and 11 mons [1918]
then Mary Moody, great-aunt; age 82 born in Sweden; widow
1930 US, Cokato, Wright Co; ED10; sheet 1B; fam/dw 23/24
as above, with added son
Rayburn W age 8 b in MN
1940 US, Cokato, Wright Co; ED86-10; sheet 6A; fam 129
as above, but daughter Alatheia is not recorded

B.A. Bonstrom, 71, dies at Cokato; died 13 Jan 1952
- survivors are a daughter, Mrs Clair Einen from Lamberton MN; and 2 sons, Benard Everett
of Minneapolis and Lt. Rayburn W. in Alaska
[Star Tribune, issue 14 Jun 1952, page 15]

Mrs Alice Bonstrom; age 68 of Cokato; died 23 Jan 1953
survived by 2 sons, Bernard Everett of Cokato, and Rayburn Warren with the army at
Fairbanks, AL; one daughter, Mrs Clair Einen of Lamberton MN
- born at Winthrop, MN [Silbey Co, MN] [Bernadotte MN is about 10 miles to the south]
[Star Tribune, issue 24 Jan 1953 p 14; newspapers.com]

Children:

[1] Bernard Everett (Ebbie) Bonstrom, age 80 [1911] at MN Veteran's Home [Minneapolis]
- former printer with Cokato Enterprise
- survived by sister Alatheia Einen of Lamberton, brother Rayburn of Minneapolis
a neice and nephews; no children are noted
[Star Tribune, issue 16 Aug 1991, p 26; newspapers.com]


[2] Alatheia (Bonstrom) Einen; b 25 Jan 1918 in Buffalo, MN; died 8 Feb 2003 Edina, MN;
- lived in Lamerton MN [abt 100+kms south east of Minneapolis; and Scottsdale, AZ
- survived by husband Clair Einen (m. about 1939; 64 years); daughter Clari Einen; daughter Gail (John) Merrill; and 2 grandsons (likely surname Merrill)
- predeceased by parents, Mary Alice (Swenson) and Bernard Bonstrom; and brother Everett (Ebb)
- she was a dietitian
[Star Tribune, issued 16 Feb 2003, page B6; newspapers.com]


[3] Rayburn Warren Bonstrom, died at age 94 on 8 Apr 2016
- preceded by wife Ruth and sister Alaheia Einen [brother Everett ??]
- survived by sons Dr Neil Bonstrom and Paul Bonstrom, grandsons Joel and Cassie Bonstrom
and a great granddaughter, Madeline Ray Bonstrom and a neice, Elaine (Dr Dwight) Anderson
- high school at Cokato, and graduated from Univeristy of MN; 1st Lt in the US Amry and
served in WW 2 and the Korean War
- findagrave id, 160956531
[Star Tribune issue 14 Apr 2016; https://www.startribune.com/obituaries/detail/131382/ ]

From "American Union of Swedish Singers", May 2016, page 8 [link, https://www.portlandscandinavianchorus.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Musik-2016-May.pdf ]
Over the years, many of our Chorus members have been veterans. God bless them. In fact, a short time ago, we sangat the funeral of Ray Bonstrom, a singer who had been both an officer during WW II and the Korean War. Ray typified the best of his generation.
His peace time was full of family, dedicated volunteering with the Masons, singing Swedish music with the ASI Male Chorus, and participating in activities at his beloved Diamond Lake Lutheran Church. His military service made these activities possible. He also had lunch with his grandson, Joel, every Saturday during Joel's "Growing Years."

Bernard married Alice Maria Swensen on 15 Sep 1904 in Wright Co, Minnesota, United States. (Alice Maria Swensen was born on 22 Jun 1884 in Nicollet Co, Minnesota, United States, died on 23 Jan 1953 in Wright Co, Minnesota, United States and was buried in Lutheran Cemetery, Cokato, Wright Co, Minnesota, United States.)