Our precious mother passed away peacefully in the Ashford Assisted Living Center in Draper, Utah, on Sunday afternoon, Aug. 30, 2020. Bonnie lived 89 glorious years.
Funeral service will be held at Tate Mortuary, 110 S. Main Street, Tooele, Utah, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020, at 11 a.m. A prior viewing will begin at 10 a.m. Interment will follow service at the Tooele City Cemetery.
Bonnie was born in Tooele, Utah, on April 10, 1931, to William and Zelia Mortensen.
She married Rowland Portwood in Tooele on June 4, 1949.
She loved horses, animals, and collecting special dolls and Indian lore. She was an active member of the Tooele Bit & Spur Rodeo groups while growing up. This is what led her to the love of her life Rowland. They were introduced to each other by her brother Art at the Tooele Rodeo grounds. Both loved horses and over their 58 years together they raised and raced horses along with raising son’s Tim, Dan, Terry, and Little Art who passed away at birth.
For the past 12 years she was living in her beloved hometown of Tooele next door to her precious sister Beth Miller.
Previous to Rowland passing away in 2008, they had a farm in Kirksville, Missouri where they moved after retiring from the Chicago area. In 1969 they moved from Utah to Illinois to a small farm on the southern edge of the Chicago suburbs. This was the center of fun and hard work for the Portwood family. She would host family and friends for all the great family get togethers. They had horses, dogs, cats, and numerous other random animals along with go-carts, bikes, basketball hoops, motorcycles, and every fun toy they could provide. Favorite food for the grandchildren were Otter-pops kept in the basement freezer.
She was an avid gardener and always gave most of what they produced away to those in need. She loved cactus and plants of every kind. Her favorite were Hostas.
She made hundreds of afghan blankets and quilts.
She loved her family, especially her 14 grandchildren and 25+ great-grandchildren. She was a dedicated member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.