Dorothy June Bondhus

Dorothy June Bondhus, 88, a Fort Collins native and long time resident passed away peacefully on August 30, 2010. June was born to Dale Leslie Putney and Alice Amanda Starks Putney on November 25, 1921 in Fort Collins, Colorado. She attended elementary school at #16, Lincoln Jr. High, and graduated from Fort Collins High School in 1939. June attended secretarial school in Denver and was later employed by Gates Rubber Company and one of the Denver hospitals. She married John Merlin Bondhus in Fort Collins on April 8, 1948. Her early employment in the Fort Collins area included City Drug and Woolworth's. In later years she accompanied her husband, Merlin to their family business, Blue Cloud Archery, on a daily basis. Her primary life's work was as a wife, mother and homemaker. Though during most of her adult life she had limited eye sight due to Retinitis Pigmentosa RP and a hearing impairment, she enjoyed family gatherings and visiting. June spoke fondly of her childhood experiences. As a young girl, on especially cold days, her grandfather would take her and other nearby children to school on a buckboard. She also frequently rode her bicycle to her Aunt Hazel's to make doughnuts. June is survived by sons, Thomas W. Janie, John R. Gail; and daughter, Beverly Miller Dale all of Fort Collins. She is also survived by her sister, Sharon A. Fangmeier of Billings, MT; granddaughters, Candy Bradley of Bellview, ID, Shawna Johnson of Palm Springs, CA, Summer Legendre Jon of Johnstown, Vanessa Bondhus, Kevin Miller Nate Spotts and grandson, Garrett Miller all of Fort Collins; nine great-grandchildren and numerous nephews and nieces. June was preceded in death by her husband, Merlin; her parents; a brother, Frank L. Putney and her youngest son, David. The family wishes to extend a special thank you to Ron and Venita Christian for their loving care of June over the last three and one half years. Memorial contributions may be made to the Foundation Fighting Blindness FFB in care of Bohlender Funeral Chapel, 121 W. Olive St., Fort Collins, CO 80524. Cremation has taken place and a celebration of life will be at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, September 8, 2010 at Bohlender Funeral Chapel with internment to follow at Resthaven Memorial Gardens Cemetery.