Bonnie Dodson

Bonnie Dodson, of Norfolk, Nebraska, passed away at St. Joseph's Rehabilitation and Care Center in Norfolk, Nebraska. She was 95.

Bonnie was born on July 14, 1930, on the family farm northeast of Venango, Nebraska, to Clements and Evelyn (Watson) Ourada. She grew up on the family farm and attended Venango Elementary school before graduating from Grant High School with the class of 1948.

On December 9, 1948, she was married to Myron Dodson in Sterling, Colorado. The couple made their home in Venango, where they owned and operated the Dodson Mercantile grocery store, as well as branching out into laundromats in Ogallala and Julesburg. In 1971, the family started farming, and in 1975, they sold the family grocery store and farmed full-time.

Bonnie was a devoted farm wife and mother throughout the years. She helped run the family grocery store and provided wonderful meals for the family gatherings. The grandkids especially loved her crescent rolls, pies, and the many desserts. The highlight of harvest was the feasts she brought out to the fields for the crew. Nobody left hungry. The food that came from Bonnie's kitchen had a way of communicating her love and generosity.

Music was always a defining part of her life, as she would play the piano and organ and sing hymns nightly at home with her family often singing along into the evening. Sundays and holidays would be spent as a family at Lake McConaughy. Those moments, and many others, would come to change into beautiful memories, gilding the years of their young family.

For more than 60 years, Bonnie was a mainstay at church, where she played the piano and organ. After her children left the home, Bonnie enjoyed giving piano lessons over the years.

Bonnie was preceded in death by her husband, Myron Dodson; an infant son, Brent Dodson; her siblings, Jeannie (Don) Campbell, Verna Lee (Bob) McCone, Dale (Vickie) Ourada; sister-in-law, Norma Jean (Pike) McCormick, and brother-in-law, Merwin Dodson.

Survivors include a daughter, Sharon (Jack) Johnson of North Carolina; a son, Scott (Patty) Dodson of Norfolk; five grandchildren, Kendra (Wayne) Dennis, Jared Johnson, Joshua (Ruth) Dodson, Christina (Zach) Bridgman, Tricia (Riley) Friesen; 11 great-grandchildren; a sister-in-law, JoAnn Dodson of Holyoke, Colorado; and other relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be held Monday, January 12, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. at Venango Community Church with Pastors Kevin Hausman and Nathan Bice officiating. Burial will be at the Venango Cemetery. Visitation will be held at the church prior to service time.

Bullock-Long Funeral Home of Grant is in charge of arrangements.