Bonita Hughes

Bonita L. "Bonnie" Hughes, age 76 of Melrose, died on Saturday, December 10, 2016 at the CentraCare Health Hospital in Melrose, surrounded by her family after a lengthy battle with Alzheimer's.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, December 15, at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Meire Grove with Rev. Marvin Enneking officiating. Interment will be at St. Mary's Cemetery following the lunch.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday and from 9 to 10 a.m. Thursday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Melrose. Parish prayers will be at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.

Bonita Lucille Boutain was born June 28, 1940 in Benson, Minnesota to William and Gladys (Swanson) Boutain. She graduated from Benson High School in 1958. She attended the University of Minnesota and graduated with a Home Economics Teaching Degree in 1961. She married Francis Hughes on June 29, 1963 at St. Malachy's Church in Clontarf, Minnesota. She owned and operated Hughes Real Estate and Appraisal Services in Melrose from 1975 until retiring in 2002. Bonnie was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, past president of the Central Minnesota Chapter of the National Association of Independent Fee Appraiser from 1995-1997, Central Chapter Appraiser of the Year in 1996, State Director from 1998 to 2000, and State Appraiser of the Year in 2000.

Bonnie enjoyed quilting, sewing, baking, camping, painting, being at the family cabin on Big Birch Lake, wintering in Arizona from 1997 to 2012, and especially spending time with her kids and grandchildren.

Survivors include her husband of 53 years, Frank Hughes of Melrose; daughters, Carolyn (Brian) Atkinson of Annandale, Sara Jo (Glen) Kemper of Melrose, and Andrea (Scott) Bussmann of Melrose; sons, Paul (Paula) Hughes of Avon and Michael Hughes of Edina; 15 grandchildren, Riley, Emma, Grace, and Annie Atkinson, Benjamin, Max, and Maddie Jo Kemper, Tyler and Samuel Bussmann, Alison, Megan, Katelin, Jaiden, Thomas, and Kaelin Hughes; sisters and brothers, Mary Ellen Mattice of Lino Lakes, Nancy (Mike) O'Leary of Starbuck, Katie (Tim) Reardon of Clontarf, Jon (Barb) Boutain of Starbuck, and Jerry (Sandy) Boutain of Las Vegas, Nevada; sisters-in-law, Shari Boutain of Custer, South Dakota and Mary Ellen (Phil) Radford of Bloomington; and brother-in-law, Stanley Kent of Morris.

Bonnie was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Billy Boutain; brothers-in-law, Milt Mattice, Mick and Jerry Hughes; sister-in-law, Isabel Kent; and great nephew, Hunter Boutain.

Serving as casket bearers will be Riley Atkinson, Tyler Bussmann, Samuel Bussmann, Benjamin Kemper, Grace Atkinson, and Annie Atkinson. Cross bearer will be Emma Atkinson and scripture bearer will be Alison Hughes. Gift bearers will be Max Kemper, Megan Hughes, Katelin Hughes, and Kaelin Hughes. Reader will be Katie Reardon. Eulogy will be by Paul Hughes.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.