Delores E. Bonander

Delores Elaine Bonander � May 26, 1925 � July 4, 2022 Delores passed away quietly on July 4, 2022 at age 96 at San Joaquin Gardens in Fresno, having enjoyed many well lived years among friends, family and in service to others. She was born on the family farm in Kingsburg CA to Ida Emerencia Johnson Bonander and David Henning Bonander, originally from Georgetown Texas and Ramsey Minnesota respectively. Delores was third of four children. Her older sister and brother, Judith and Milton, are now both deceased. Her younger sister Ruth continues to reside in Fresno. She was an active, happy and intelligent child who enjoyed growing up on the farm with her siblings and among the farm animals and crops. Well-spoken and outgoing, Delores was her eighth-grade class valedictorian at Kingsburg school, and then discovered her mission and passion in life in home economics in high school. The first in her family to earn a college degree, she graduated from UC Santa Barbara in 1946 in home economics. Delores returned to the valley to teach at Selma High School. In addition, she served as a 4-H advisor in Fresno County, taught at College of the Sequoias and then in 1953 was hired to be Fresno County's Home Economics Advisor in the Agricultural Extension Service. She wrote and appeared in a local home economics television program, and contributed frequent columns on cooking, nutrition, sewing and health issues for the Fresno Bee, the Kingsburg Recorder, the Selma Enterprise and other local publications. Delores was proud to be a Soroptimist. In 1959 Delores took a sabbatical to continue her education at Michigan State University, obtaining her MS in Home Economics. She came home to the valley to continue to share her knowledge of nutrition, food preparation, clothing and home design, teaching and making presentations in almost every community in the area. Delores easily made friends at college and among her colleagues in Fresno. She was especially close to her sister Judy, and her sister Ruth and husband Sam, Ruth's children, David and Diane, and Ruth's grandchildren Samantha, Calvin and Daniel. Her brother Milton and his spouses Inez and Gloria, and children Jimmie and Sharon, also held special places in her heart. Delores was fond of traveling, and frequently visited locations in the US and other countries in the company of her college friends and sisters. She was an outstanding cook, well known for her Swedish baked treats. She was active in the Republican Women's' Club and a life member and devoted to God and the Bridge (Evangelical Free) Church. Delores spent her last years at San Joaquin Gardens, and was thankful for the friendship of Marie Prinz, her dog Skipper and her caregivers. Her nephew David Cumming provided extensive support and care to Delores during her final years. Delores will be missed by her remaining family members and friends, and may she rest in peace. Her celebration of life has yet to be scheduled.

Delores E. Bonander

May 26, 1925 - July 4, 2022