MARINE RESERVES
Miss Bonnie Waggoner, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Scott Waggoner of Webster City, has enlisted and been accepted in the Women’s Reserve of the U.S. Marine Corps and is now awaiting her call. For the past several years, she has been one of Hamilton county’s successful school teachers and is reported to be the first county teacher to enlist.
Source: The Freeman, Webster City, Iowa, Thursday, June 10, 1943
IN NORTH CAROLINA
Miss Bonnie Waggoner, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Scott Waggoner of this city, is now taking recruit training with the marines women’s reserve at Camp Lejeune, New River, N.C. She writes that one of her instructors is Lieutenant Hila Haack, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Minor Haack, also of this city. Prior to her enlistment in the marines, Miss Waggoner was a rural school teacher in this county. Her address: Pvt. Bonnie Waggoner, U.S.M.C. (W.R.) Women’s Reserve Schools, Recruit Depot, Branch 12, Company B-6-Brks, 106, Camp Lejeune, New River, North Carolina.
Source: The Freeman, Webster City, Iowa, Thursday, August 26, 1943
RECEIVES RATING
Miss Bonnie Waggoner, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Scott Waggoner of this city, has completed four weeks boot training in the marine corps reserve and has received a private first class rating. She is located at Camp Lejeune, New River, N.C., her address: Pfc. Bonnie Waggoner, Headquarters Co., Brks. 124 Women’s Reserve, Camp Lejeune, New River, N. C.
Source: The Daily Freeman Journal, Saturday, September 25, 1943
TRANSFERRED
Bonnie Waggoner, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Scott Waggoner of this city, who is a member of the marine corps, has been transferred to the air station at Cherry Point, N. C. Her address is: Pfc. Bonnie Waggoner, W.R. Brks. 221—2, U.S.M.C.A.S., Cherry Point, N. C.
Source: The Daily Freeman Journal, Monday, October 11, 1943
CALIFORNIA BASE
Pfc. Bonnie Waggoner, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Scott Waggoner of this city, has been transferred from the marine base at Cherry Point, N. C., to California. She is an instructor in plane recognition, one of the last phases of training marines received before going overseas.
Her address is: Pfc. Bonnie Waggoner, W. R., Headquarters Squadron, M.R.A.S., Camp Mojave, Cal.
Source: The Daily Freeman Journal, Thursday, December 2, 1943
GIVEN PROMOTION
Bonnie Waggoner, a member of the marine corps auxiliary, has been advanced to the rank of corporal from private first class. Corporal Waggoner is stationed at Mojave, Cal., where she is serving as an instructor in plane recognition. Her address: Cpl. Bonnie Waggoner, (WR), Hdq. Squad, M.C.A.S., Mojave, Cal.
Source: The Daily Freeman Journal, Monday, February 21, 1944
IN UNIFORM.
MARINES DISCHARGED
Cpl. Bonnie R. Waggoner and Sgt. Ardelia M. Wheeler, both of this city, have received discharges from the women’s reserve of the marine corps according to a press release from the public relations affairs office at Des Moines. At the time of discharge Corporal Waggoner had 25 points and Sergeant Wheeler, 28.
Source: The Freeman, Monday, October 15, 1945
Bonnie’s obituary
Bonnie R. Rasmussen, 90, of Webster City, died Sunday, March 1, 2009 at the Hamilton Hospital. Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at the Church of Christ, with Pastor Ray Artrip officiating. Burial will be in the Graceland Cemetery. Visitation will be two hours before the funeral service. Arrangements were made with the Foster Funeral and Cremation Center. Military graveside services will be conducted by American Legion Post # 191.
Bonnie Rosalie Waggoner, daughter of Scott and Rose Martin Waggoner, was born Sept. 4,1918 at Kamrar. She graduated from Lincoln High in Webster City in 1936 and attended Iowa State Teachers College at Cedar Falls (UNI). She taught in Hamilton County rural schools for eight years. From August of 1943 to October of 1945, she served in the U.S. Marine Corps, reaching the rank of Corporal. She was an instructor in the Aviation Training Program. On Nov. 10, 1945, she married, Marion L. Rasmussen at Fort Dodge. The couple resided at Webster City. Mr. Rasmussen died October 25, 1958. In July of 1959, she started employment at the First State Bank, first as a bookkeeper, then teller and retiring in 1988 as head teller.
Bonnie is survived by nieces, Betty Ulstad of Fort Dodge; Sondrae Fort of Iowa City; Karen Bye of Lino Lakes, MN; Jean Moore of AZ; nephews, Elwin Waggoner of Mackinaw Island, MI; John Waggoner of West Des Moines; Larry and LaVerne Waggoner of California; great nieces and great nephews, Allen Welsh of Iowa City; Debra Simonson of Centennial, CO; Steven Ulstad of Dubuque; Kim Willson of Webster City; Michael Welsh of Bullhead City, AZ; Sarah Summers of Marshalltown; Jeanna Bentley of Webster City; Phillip Fort and Matthew Fort, both of Iowa City; David Waggoner and Susan Gregory, both of Michigan; Jay Waggoner of West Des Moines; several great-great nieces and nephews and several great-great-great nieces and nephews.
In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Don and Karl Waggoner; sisters, Altabelle Holloway; Freda Allen and Opal Goodrich; niece, Sherry Welsh.
She was a member of the Church of Christ; past president of Business Professional Women; Past Worthy Matron of the Order of Eastern Star; Past Worthy High Priestess of White Shrine; Past Chapter Regent of the Daughters of the American Revolution; treasurer of the Webster City Community School District for ten years and served on the Zoning Board of Adjustments. She also enjoyed traveling, walking and reading.
Source: Daily Freeman Journal, Webster City, IA - March 3, 2009
