Bonnie Corrine (Justus) Miller, 85, passed away peacefully at Benton House of Staley Hills in Kansas City, Missouri, on July 31, 2023.
Bonnie was born on September 20, 1937, to Ross Alvin Justus and Hazel Mae (Fox) Justus, on a farm a few miles southeast of Smithville, MO. She attended the one-room Mitchell School for grades 1-8 before attending and graduating from Smithville High School. Bonnie met the love of her life, Richard Miller, and they married on August 28, 1955. Richard was in the Navy and stationed in California. Bonnie, age 17, left Smithville for the west coast. They were baptized together at a church in Chula Vista, California. Other assignments took them to Hawaii and Texas before Richard retired from the Navy and they returned to the heartland to raise 6 children.
Bonnie was a caring wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. She loved her family and cherished time with both family and friends. Bonnie often organized picnics to gather friends and family. Before Smithville Lake was built, Lake Remote was often her location of choice for family gatherings. Later, Oak Grove Park in Gladstone was the regular site for her fun outings.
As her children entered their teens, Bonnie served children in the North Kansas City School District as a cafeteria worker at Clardy, Northgate and Fox Hill schools. Richard and Bonnie enjoyed volunteering for the Saint Luke’s Health System Northland Hospital Auxiliary for 15 years in retirement.
Bonnie was preceded in death by her husband, Richard, in 2011, her sister Martha, and brothers Roy, Norman, and Vernon.
She is survived by her six devoted children, Richard (Cindy) Miller of Rogers AR, Julia (Chuck) Cooley of Ozawkie, KS, Linda (David) Dildine of Gladstone, MO, Sharon (John) Van Winkle of Raymore, MO, Randy (Julie) Miller of Liberty, MO, Nancy (Randy) Brashers of Branson, MO, sixteen grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and her two brothers, Kenneth and Dean Justus.
A visitation to celebrate Bonnie’s life will be held at 1:00pm on Friday, August 4th at the Hixson-Klein Funeral Home at 104 Church Street in Smithville, Missouri. A memorial service will follow at 2:00pm. Burial: Community of Smithville Memorial Cemetery.
