Bonita Duffield

Funeral Mass for Bonita Duffield, 93, of Baker, MT, will be 10:00 A.M. Saturday, June 8,  at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Dickinson with Father Brian Gross celebrating.  Burial will follow in the Fertile Prairie Cemetery near Baker, MT.


Visitation for Bonita will take place from 5:00 to 7:00 P.M. Friday June 7 at Stevenson Funeral Home, Dickinson with a Rosary and Vigil Service taking place at 7:00 P.M.


Bonita passed away June 1, 2019 at her daughters house in Watford City, ND.


Bonita “Bonnie” Braun was born to Theodore and Amelia (Kreager) Braun in Baker, MT on April 25, 1926. Bonnie grew up and attended country school at the Fertile Prairie School through the 8th grade. She met and married Merritt Duffield on December 26, 1943 in Baker, MT. To this union eleven children were born, Keith, Kenneth, Sharon, Dennis, Douglas, Merritt Jr., Pamela, William, Amelia, Linda, and John. Together, Merritt and Bonnie raised their children and farmed East of Baker.


Bonnie enjoyed sewing and made all of the clothes for their children for many years. She also enjoyed quilting, playing the organ, watching birds, crocheting and embroidery. She was a 4-H leader for over 25 years. She belonged to St. John’s Catholic Church, the Council of Catholic Women, Catholic Daughters, and served as Regent of the Court. Bonnie also made rosaries for the church missions and prayed the rosary every day because she had a great devotion to our Blessed Mother. Her faith in God and the Church always rang true to her heart and the scripture, John 13:34, was what she lived by. Bonnie counted all her friends and neighbors as one of the many blessings she was given by God.

In 1995, Bonnie went back and received her GED, an accomplishment that she and her family were very proud of.


Bonnie is survived by her children, Dennis (Paula) Duffield of Bismarck, ND, Merritt Duffield Jr. of Baker, MT, Linda (David) Knudtson of Watford City, ND and John (Kaye) Duffield of Rapid City, SD; 29 Grandchildren, 45 Great-Grandchildren and 3 Great-Great-Grandchildren; son-in-law, Joe Kovacich ; daughter-in-law, Joan Duffield of Forsyth, MT; brothers, Teddy (Sue) Braun of Post Falls, ID, Gene Braun of Bullhead City, AZ; and numerous nieces and nephews.


She is preceded in death by her parents, husband, Merritt, sons Kenneth, Keith, Douglas, and William; daughters Sharon, Pamela, and Amelia; brothers, Alfred, Leon; sisters, Judy, Louise, Angela, and Nancy.




Burial Date: June 8, 2019
Funeral Home Dickinson, ND

Funeral Mass:  10:00 A.M. Saturday, June 8, 2019, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Dickinson
Rosary & Vigil Service:   7:00 P.M. Friday, June 7, 2019, at Stevenson Funeral Home, Dickinson