Bonnie was born in Burlington Iowa to Edward and Hazel Peck. She attended grade school in Burlington before moving to Galesburg, Ill. She graduated from Galesburg High School in 1941. After graduation she took a government sponsored training course as a machinist, upon completion she was employed at the Rock Island Arsenal in Rock Island, Il. making gun parts for the war effort. During this time she met her husband Herbert E. Howell who was home on furlough from Army Duty. After World War II ended she worked as a clerk in a John Deere Plant in Molina, Il. In 1945 Herbert E. Howell was discharged from the Army and in 1946 they were married at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. They both worked for John Deere before moving to Peoria, Ill and were employed by Caterpillar Tractor Co. Bonnie and her husband moved to California in 1947 and lived in Santa Barbara for several years before moving to Fresno and later to Shafter. While in Shafter she was employed by Vignola Farms and Cotton Associates as an office manager for approximately thirty years. Bonnie was an avid golfer and spent many vacations golfing and shopping for antiques. After retirement they moved to Bakersfield after selling their home to the Rite Aid Corp. She is survived by her husband of 66 years Herbert; nieces: Verna Magnuson, Sandy Vorhees, Wilma Aalderks, Peggy Bandy; Nephew: Fred Magnuson, and sisters-in-law Bonnie and Norma Peck. Visitation will be held at Peters Funeral Home in Shafter on Sunday October 21, 2012 from 2 – 6 pm. A graveside service will be held at Shafter Memorial Park on Monday, October 22, 2012 at 11 am. In lieu of flowers, Bonnie requested that a donation be made in her memory to the American Cancer Fund.