Bonnie Mae Knox died unexpectedly on September 25, 2015 at age 92. A vigil service will take place on Friday, October 2nd, at 7:00 pm at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Colfax. Funeral Mass will be Saturday, October 3rd, at 10:00 am. Graveside service will be at the LaCrosse Cemetery at 1:30 pm. Bonnie was born in Colfax, Washington on August 6, 1923 to Fred and Teresa (Heitstuman) Zimmer. She lived on the Pullman highway – just before Huber Action Freight – up on a hill before moving to Lewiston, Idaho where her father worked in the gardens. Her family then moved to the Almota area where she would go down the draws above the Snake River. During that time she would ride her horse to the neighbor's house to catch a ride to school. She attended 2nd and 3rd grade in Spokane and lived with family. She went to the St. John's Academy for 5th and 6th grade. Her family then moved to Cusick, WA, north of Newport and she graduated from Cusick High School. Her family then moved back to Hay to farm. She was Union Flat Rodeo Queen in 1944 circa. She married Donald Knox from Hay, Washington on January 12, 1944. They lived in the Hay area for several years before moving to Colfax. They lived in town for a while and then moved to the Prune Orchard area for 27 years before moving back to town in 1979. Along with keeping very busy as a wife, mother and homemaker while living on the farm she also worked for J.C. Penney's and then drove school bus for many years. She was a member of the Altar Society, the Catholic Daughters, and the Whitman Hospital Auxiliary. She was a custodian and groundskeeper for St. Patrick's Catholic Church. Bonnie served as a judge and superintendent at the Palouse Fair and was an active member of the Colfax Thrifty Grandmother's Club. She loved gardening. Her yard and flowers on Valleyview in Colfax were admired and enjoyed by all and she received many compliments. Even on the day she fell ill she had been working in her yard and preparing it for winter. Other hobbies she enjoyed included sewing and quilting. She made quilts for her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, as well as for many of her friends. Bonnie was preceded in death by her parents, Fred and Teresa Zimmer, her husband Donald, a brother Jack Zimmer, and by a grandson, David Ritchie. She is survived by her three children, Donna (Albert) See of Colorado Springs, CO., Mary Jane Loughney of Pullman, WA., and William "Bill" (Lori) Knox of Colfax and a brother, Fritz Zimmer, also Colfax; 11 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorial gifts be made to Volunteer Fireman Inc. in Colfax or to the Thrifty Grandmother's,
Bruning Funeral Home of Colfax is caring for the family.