Bonnie L. Christensen
Bonnie Lou Christensen, 74, passed away at Monument Health Hospice House on Tuesday May 5, 2026.
Born December 26, 1951, Bonnie was the third of six children born to Herbert and Evelyn. She grew up on the family farm in Humboldt, where she learned the true value of hard work. She graduated from West Central High School in 1971. After graduating, Bonnie moved to Pensacola, FL. She told stories of how she loved riding her candy-apple red motorcycle and visiting the beach during her time in Florida.
In February of 1976 she gave birth to her first-born son, Christopher David. Shortly after his birth she returned to South Dakota, making Rapid City her permanent residence.
She attended Greens School of Cosmetology, graduating in May of 1976. Immediately after graduating, she began her career as a cosmetologist at Big Top Beauty Salon. The following year, she gave birth to her second child, her first daughter, Kendra Evelyn. After years of making a household run between hard work and hard love, she gave birth to her third child, another daughter, Karalea Noel. They grew up in a household that she built with hard work, but more importantly full of love. She made sure her children had what they needed. In 1993, when her first grandchild was born, she knew life was complete. She had someone else to spoil and watch grow into something great and wonderful.
Over the years she was blessed with eight more grandchildren and six great grandchildren. She loved being able to spend time with them, often traveling with her family for sporting events, or keeping them overnight for grandma time. She loved being their biggest cheerleader and never missed an important event. She truly valued having the ability to spend time with her family.
Bonnie had a passion for crafts. She loved to sew and crochet, both skills she learned from her mother. Over the years she made an abundance of dresses, blankets, hats, baby clothes, and potholders that she gifted to friends and family that she loved dearly. She loved painting ceramics, often taking her kids with her to get new ones to paint. She filled her free time with hobbies of passion. She enjoyed bowling for fun, often bowling in leagues over the years with family and friends.
Bonnie’s other passion was her career as a cosmetologist. She spent 49+ years working in the beauty industry, often taking her children to work, and paying them to sweep the floors for her. Bonnie gained many lifelong friends and coworkers from her time doing hair and nails. She spent 25+ years working at the JC Penney Styling salon, eventually promoting to a master stylist before retiring.
She is survived by her three children, Chris Cullingford (Nicholette), Kendra Cullingford-Christensen, and Karalea Kissinger (Kolton). She is also survived by nine grandchildren, and six great grandchildren; two brothers, Dennis and Dean, along with several cousins, nieces and nephews.
Bonnie was preceded in death by her father Herbert, mother Evelyn, stepfather Wayne, infant sister Dorothea, brother Gary, and sister Susan.
She will be greatly missed by her family, friends, and those blessed enough to have known her over the years.
Services will be held at Kirk Funeral Home on Wednesday, May 13, at 2:00pm. A time of fellowship will follow at 4:00 p.m. at the American Legion Post 22, 818 E Saint Patrick St. A private burial will be held at Hills of Rest Cemetery in Sioux Falls at a later date. Honorary pallbearers are Dominic Christensen, Dru Quilt, Carsen Kissinger, Matthew McPherson, Logan Molgard, Alijah McPherson, Ariah McPherson and Kylo Christensen.