Bonnie Rae Novy, the daughter of Wallace Ray and Beulah Berniece (Chapman) Watkins, was born March 25, 1941, in Tarkio, Missouri. She attended Tarkio High School, graduating in 1959. She then attended Tarkio College, receiving her bachelor’s degree in business in 1963.

On August 1, 1964, Bonnie was united in marriage to Lyman Novy and they became the parents of two children, Gayle and David. Lyman passed away in February of 2000.

Bonnie was employed by Cambridge, Nebraska, as a business teacher, where she taught for numerous years. She was employed by various banks including Cornhusker Bank in Lincoln, Nebraska, where she eventually retired.

Bonnie was a member of the United Methodist Church, Lincoln, and Faculty Wives, Sutton, Nebraska. She cherished spending time with her grandchildren. She loved reading books to them. Every book, every story she brought to life as she was reading. Bonnie’s legacy will live through each grandchild reading to their children.

Bonnie enjoyed cooking, baking, and making homemade play dough. She also loved gardening, canning, and ceramics. Her success story is about the love she gave and the lives she touched. She was an incredible person full of good. She was honest, hardworking, and often doing two jobs at a time to help provide for the family she loved so much. Bonnie passed away Friday, March 13, 2026, at Tabitha Health, Grand Island, Nebraska, at the age of 84.

Besides her parents and husband, Lyman Novy, Bonnie was preceded in death by brothers, Jim and Charley Watkins; and sister, Kay (Watkins) Sturtz. Survivors include children, Gayle (Jason) Bonnes and David (Donna) Novy; grandchildren, Jordan Bonnes, Jaysa (Alex) Bonnes-Cowell, Gabrielle “Gabby” Bonnes, DeLaney (Spencer) Barkdoll, Dayton Novy, and Zoey Carter; great-grandchildren, Jeralynne Bonnes and Brantley Carter; brother, John Watkins; sister-in-law, Janet Watkins; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

A memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m. Sunday, March 29, 2026, at Davis Funeral Home, Tarkio, conducted by Rev. Glenn Scott. Inurnment will be at Home Cemetery, Tarkio. There is no scheduled visitation. Memorials may be directed to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Arrangements are under the direction of Davis Funeral Home, Tarkio. Online condolences may be made at www.minterfuneralchapels.com.