Bonnie Marie Stenzel (née Neilson), of Seattle, Washington, passed away on September 3,
2026, at the age of 75. Born on April 1, 1951, in Corpus Christi, Texas, soon after, Washington
state became her home. Bonnie lived a life stitched together with warmth, laughter, and more
fabric and yarn than any one house should reasonably hold.
If you knew Bonnie, you knew her hands were rarely still. Quilting, knitting, and crocheting
weren’t just hobbies for her; they were how she showed love. She had a way of turning pieces
of fabric and skeins of yarn into something you’d treasure for years. She loved to share her
work with others, entering her pieces in the Puyallup Fair and joining their challenge quilt and
fastest fingers competitions, winning many blue ribbons over the years. Most summers, you
could find her at the Alki or Magnolia summer festivals with a booth. She loved peoplewatching
and had a unique ability to connect with people and animals alike, often found talking
to dogs and babies.
Though a graduate of Mount Rainier High School, Bonnie spent most of her early years in
Anacortes, Washington, and will forever be part of the Anacortes High School Class of 1969.
She always spoke fondly of growing up there and her friends, including many of whom she
reconnected with in recent years. She went on to earn her AA from Highline College and later,
while raising two daughters, her BA and teaching certificate from the University of Washington.
Many remember her as Ms. White from her years teaching English and Algebra at Seattle
Lutheran High School. She always strove to connect with her students and help every
individual flourish. A lifelong learner herself, she moved onto the City of Seattle, where she was
constantly learning and growing. Her roles were many and the tasks varied, but she always
remained true to her spirit of teamwork through patience, warmth and encouragement. Her
intelligent quick-wit and spicy spirit endeared her to all who knew her.
Bonnie is survived by her loving husband, Don; her sister, Gail; daughters Mary and Lora; stepchildren
John, Tim, Jennifer, Matt, and Cristina; and 17 grandchildren, all of whom she adored
deeply. She was preceded in death by her parents, Lynn and Bruce Neilson.
A Celebration of Life will be held in her honor on Saturday, November 14, at 1 PM at Dakota
Place, located at 4304 SW Dakota St, Seattle, WA 98116. We invite all who knew and loved
Bonnie to come together to remember, grieve, and honor the beautiful life she lived. She
always loved a good potluck, so we invite you to bring a dish that reminds you of her or that
you think she would love.
Bonnie’s legacy of kindness, intelligence, and creativity will be remembered and cherished by
all who knew her. She will be interred at Washington Memorial Park in SeaTac, Washington. In
lieu of flowers, donations can be made to West Seattle Food Bank.
