Gayle L. “Bonnie” Spurgeon (Bothun-Stevens), 92, of Austin, Minnesota, died Friday, March 23, 2018, at Mayo Clinic Health System in Austin.

Gayle LaVonne was born on Feb. 22, 1926, in Preston, Minnesota, to Alfred and Mabel (Redalen) Bothun. She was baptized on April 29, 1926, in the Lutheran Faith at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Lanesboro, Minnesota. She enjoyed her childhood in Lanesboro. In high school she loved acting in plays, playing the lead and singing in the play “Angel,” roller skating, dancing and cheerleading. She taught Sunday School to four year-olds and sang in the church choir. She graduated from Lanesboro High School in 1944. She married Lee Fredrick “Fritz” Stevens in Austin; the union was blessed with four children. Fritz passed away in 1957. Bonnie later married Merle Spurgeon at the First United Methodist Church in Austin, bringing to the union two sons that she loved as her own. Merle passed away in 2005. She always enjoyed sports; you could walk in and see her watching the Vikings or the Twins. Bonnie was always smiling, had a kind word for everyone, forgave easily, and loved sharing the wonderful things in her life. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church. Her family, especially her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, were her greatest joy. Bonnie will be greatly missed by her family and friends; blessed be her soul. She is now dancing with both of our dads.

Bonnie had a slogan she lived by: Look for good in people when you meet them. It is always there.

It takes strength and grace to live a memorable life such as Bonnie did. She said with a smile, “It has been a wonderful life.”

She is survived by children, Dennis (Carrol) Spurgeon of Vero Beach, Florida, Gayle (Larry) Faber of Austin, Nancy Schleicher of Bondurant, Iowa, Bill (Jeanine) Stevens of Lincoln, Nebraska, Doug (Margaret) Spurgeon of Coon Rapids, Minnesota, and Randy (Carol) Stevens; grandchildren, Dennis, Scott, Kimberly, Timothy, Matthew, Brenna, Brenee, Bradley, Brian, Catherine, Emily, Melissa and Justin; great-grandchildren, Ella, Caroline, Luke, Isabella, Ethan, Ashley, Mariel, Mena, Sophia, Avery, Haylee, Kaylyn, Jacob, Lukas, Ashton, Isabella, Rachel, Emily, Lauryn, Riley and Laila; sisters, Shirley Weber and Joanne Slitter; brother, Al Bothun; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Bonnie was preceded in death by her beloved son-in-law, Tom Schleicher; her parents; husbands, Fritz Stevens and Merle Spurgeon; and brothers and sisters, Rosella (her godparent), Helen, Mildred, Norris, Vivian, Avery (infant), Blanche, Marcella, Virgil, Virginia and Annabelle.

Memorial services will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday, April 6, 2018, at the First United Methodist Church in Austin with Pastor Dennis Tamke officiating. Visitation will be held from noon to 1 p.m. prior to the service on Friday at the church. Interment will be in Oakwood Cemetery in Austin. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to First United Methodist Church or Sacred Heart Care Center, both in Austin. Please direct memorial cards to Worlein Funeral Home at 1801 Fourth St. NW, Austin, Minnesota 55912. Services prearranged and performed by Worlein Funeral Home of Austin. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.worlein.com.