Bonita 'Bonnie' Haugen Obituary

Memorial services for Bonnie Haugen, of Starbuck, Minnesota, will be held on Saturday, July 19, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Glenwood, Minnesota with Father Joe Vandenberg celebrating the Mass. A visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday. Burial will be at the Benson City Cemetery in Benson, Minnesota.

Bonita Kay Swartz was born on March 6, 1948, in Benson, Minnesota, to Earl and Anna Mae (Goulet) Swartz. She was raised in Appleton, Minnesota where she started her education, and when she was a Junior in high school, the family moved to Starbuck, Minnesota. She finished her schooling at Starbuck High School, graduating with the class of 1966. Bonnie attended Moorhead State College and earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education. While in college, she met Robert Haugen, the two began dating and were married on March 21, 1970, at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Glenwood. Following their marriage, they moved to North Carolina while Bob finished his time in the Military. They then moved to Barnesville, Minnesota, Bonnie taught school and Bob commuted to Moorhead to finish his schooling. The couple moved to Moorhead where they spent ten years and welcomed two children: Jessica and Thomas. Bonnie took an 18-year maternity leave while she raised her children. The family moved to Apple Valley and Bonnie accepted a position working with Target, her career that she retired from. While in Apple Valley, they purchased a home in Starbuck, and would visit when they were able, and after retirement, they settled full time in Starbuck.

Bonnie was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Glenwood, the Starbuck VFW Auxiliary, and the Study Club in Starbuck. She enjoyed making a home wherever they were, spending time with her large family and her children and grandchildren. Later in life, Bob and Bonnie enjoyed spending time on the water, boating and pontooning, and going to visit children and grandchildren.

Bonnie died peacefully on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, at Holly Ridge in Starbuck, under the care of her family and Glacial Ridge Hospice, she was 77 years old.

She is survived by her husband: Bob of Starbuck; children: Jessica (James) Norwood of Aurora, CO, and Thomas (Shelly) Haugen of Bloomington, IN; three grandchildren: Madison, Mason, and Morgan Norwood; siblings: Gregory Swartz of Starbuck, Deborah (Mike) Chow of Texas, Daniel (Sheila) Swartz of Glenwood, Bradley Swartz of Glenwood, Michael (Darla) Swartz of Jamestown, ND, Jeffery (Rae) Swartz of Waukon, IA, and Lisa Swartz of Blaine; brother-in-law, Ross (Jana) Haugen of Maple Grove; and many nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.

Bonnie is preceded in death by her parents: Earl and Anna Mae Swartz, and her parents-in-law, Kenneth and Alvera Haugen.

Bonnie’s family would like to extend a heartfelt Thank You to all the staff and caretakers of Glacial Ridge Hospital, Glacial Ridge Hospice and Holly Ridge for their loving care of Bonnie in her final days.

Starbuck Funeral Home is in care of arrangements for Bonnie.