BONITA DAWN "BONNIE" DOELY

1932 - 2025

Bonita Dawn Doely, 93, passed away peacefully September 12, 2025, at TenderNest in Billings, Montana. She was born June 15, 1932, in Columbus, MT and graduated in 1951 from Columbus High school. By 1952 she found the love of her life and married Ralph Doely in April. They lived a rich life together farming and raising a family in Rapelje, MT. They enjoyed almost 61 years as a couple until Ralph's passing in 2013.

Bonnie loved being a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother and enjoyed family gatherings. She always knew what was going on with her grandchildren and was very proud of them. The grandchildren remember Grandma's endless supply of M&M's and ice cream. She was known for a lot of wonderful traits including her cooking, baking and being an excellent seamstress. We fondly remember her Norwegian cookies, lefse, monster cookies, fried chicken and of course "Old Daisy". She had wanted to attend beauty school and ended up providing haircuts and perms to friends and family in Rapelje for years. She had many years of fun bowling in Columbus with her friends. Later in life, after the kids left home, she worked at Montana Silversmiths and enjoyed the friendships that she developed there. Bonnie was always ready for an adventure. Bonnie and Ralph lived in Rapelje until 2006 when they moved back to Columbus.

Bonnie was preceded in death by her husband, Ralph Doely; her parents Leonard & Dagny Isakson, four sisters Lolly (Frank) Kovanda; Leanne (John) Craig; Patricia (Don) Wodrich; Wanda (Paul) Frazier and one brother Larry Isakson; and son-in-law Mike Williams.

She is survived by three children, Roger (Wendy) Doely, Debra 'Sam' (Leo) McDonnell, Mark (Karen) Doely; grandchildren Steve (Amy) Williams, Buffy (Tom) Chamberlin, Darcy (Victor) Goni, Kelsey McDonnell, Matt (Sarah) Doely, Jenny (Mitch) Auer, Josh (Leslie) Doely, Krysta (Lane) Green; 27 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great grandchildren and a sister-in-law Sue Isakson. Bonnie's family would like to express their sincere gratitude for the excellent care she received at TenderNest and with Stillwater Hospice.

Services will be held at the Columbus Evangelical Church on Monday, September 22, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. (2 E 1st Ave N, Columbus, MT). Smith Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements and cremation has taken place. Memorials may be made to Stillwater Hospice of Montana (3737 Grand Avenue, Ste. 1, Billings, MT 59102) or a charity of your choice.

The funeral service will be broadcast on Columbus Evangelical Church's website. Please go to their website for the correct link.