Juanita Elizabeth (Bonnesen) CHRISTENSEN THAYER

BONNESEN, THAYER, LOVE, CHRISTENSEN, ELPHIC, FROHLING, BERCUTT, PASQUARIELLO, LUSCOMB, PALS, MOSIMAN, WOLFE, ERSLAND, MITCHELL, MISSICK, FRANKLIN, JOHNSON

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/10/2024 at 13:06:56

December 28, 1918 ----- May 20, 2018

Juanita E. Roche, 99, died May 20, 2018 in Scottsdale, AZ. A family memorial service will be held at a later date. Juanita Elizabeth was born Dec. 28, 1918 and was adopted in 1919 by Hans and Signe Bonnesen from the Children’s Home in Council Bluffs. She grew up in Kimballton and graduated from high school in Elk Horn. Then she worked in Omaha.

She raised her family in Hampton and Belmond, moving to Scottsdale in 1995. She taught Sunday school at St. John’s Lutheran Church and was a member of the Women’s Auxiliary. She volunteered with the Cub Scouts. Juanita worked as a certified nursing assistant in nursing homes in Hampton and Scottsdale, retiring at the age of 87. She taught Sunday school at New Covenant Lutheran Church in Scottsdale.

She was a great lady and loved by all. She played the piano and violin, and loved to sing. Her sense of humor and wit were treasured by her family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her children Carole Christensen Love and James Martin Christensen; grandchild Jamie Elphic; and stepchild Hal Roche.  She is survived by her husband of over 40 years, William Roche; children Sharon Christensen, Pamela (Randy) Frohling, Jon (Jody) Elphic, Lori Elphic, Larry (Katie) Elphic and Randy (RuthAnn) Elphic; grandchildren Amy Love, Pamela Bercutt, Tony, Jamie and Kelly Pals, Elizabeth Pasquariello, Shelley Wolfe, Cory Mosiman, Jennifer Luscomb, Rachael Ersland, Reece Elphic, Collin Elphic, Brooke Elphic, Nicholas Elphic Mitchell, Colton Elphic and Emelia Elphic; 22 great-grandchildren; and stepchildren Mary (Rod) Missick, Peggy Franklin, William Roche, Matt Roche, Bob (Teresa) Roche, Donald (Heidi) Roche, Diane (Kurt) Johnson and Ellen Roche.

Belmond Independent -- Belmond, Iowa
June 5, 2018