Bonnie passed away Saturday morning, June 15, 2024, at Lakeview Methodist Health Care Center in Fairmont. Kramer Family Funeral Homes of Welcome, Sherburn and Trimont are assisting the family with arrangements.

Bonnie Jean (Fischer) Fjelstad was born Aug. 8, 1931, in St. Peter, Minn., the daughter of Willmar and Maybelle (Oster) Fischer. She attended St. Peter public schools and graduated from St. Peter High School in 1949.

In 1952, Bonnie was united in marriage to Charles Fjelstad in St. Peter, Minn. This union was blessed with four children: Jan, Jeff, Jeanne and Julie. The couple later divorced, at which time Bonnie moved to Fairmont.

Bonnie worked for the St. Peter Herald covering social news. She later worked for Wallace’s Department Store in Fairmont where she did some style shows as well as doing commercial spots on KSUM radio. At that same time, she also managed the Nicholas Theatre which would later become the Fairmont Opera House. It was around that time when she caught the bug for being in the public eye. Her radio commercials later led to 10-minute segments on Wallace’s Women’s News. Soon she could be seen in commercial spots on KEYC which led to her getting a job selling advertising with KEYC for about 5 years. Bonnie later became involved in “Hometown Focus” which was a public access community program about the people and places of Martin County. She would often conduct interviews as part of this job and even got to interview Charlie Pride. Her work on “Hometown Focus” drew the attention of a local producer who recruited Bonnie to appear as a regular character in the local access soap opera “As the Corn Grows.” Bonnie joyfully played the role of Mrs. Swanson who experienced many juicy and tantalizing storylines. She had such a fun time playing the role and being involved with the rest of the cast.

Left to cherish her memory include her children, Jeff (Dinah) Fjelstad, Jeanne Beebe and Julie (Jeff) Weber; six grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; other relatives and friends.

Along with her parents, Willmar and Maybelle Fischer, and her grandparents, Bonnie was also preceded in death by her daughter, Jan Wendt. www.kramerfuneralhome.com

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