Yvonne "Bonnie" Alison Armbruster

The family of Bonnie Armbruster is saddened to say that their world has shifted with the passing of their beloved Mother, Grandmother and Great Grandmother (aka GG).
Bonnie was born Yvonne Alison Bennett, to Fred and Kathleen Bennett of Grenfell, Saskatchewan. She grew up and received her elementary and high school education in Grenfell, where she forged friendships that lasted her lifetime. Summers were centred around the family cabin at Crooked Lake. She would often reminisce about taking off her shoes at the end of the school year and not having to put them back on until the end of summer holidays. Bonnie‘s Grandmother, a school teacher, taught her to read before she started school and she was a voracious reader ever after that. Her early life in Grenfell was regulated by the two days a week that the public library was open. She and her friends were often the first in line to borrow the maximum allowed, number of books. She always had a book on the go and delighted in finding and reading old books, such as a first edition volume written by Mark Twain, which she proudly proclaimed, she found in a thrift shop and after determining the book’s value, sent family and friends, a screenshot of its worth based on a Google search. Following high school, Bonnie attended business school in Regina and a year at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon.
She married Ken Armbruster on June 24, 1971 in a simple but beautiful ceremony, wearing a dress that was handmade by Ken’s Grandmother, carrying a bouquet of flowers from her mother’s garden. Together, they built a life of love and devotion, welcoming two children, Kendra and Bradley, who remained at the centre of their world. In their early years, the family relocated several times before firmly planting roots in Yorkton, Saskatchewan, in 1984. Bonnie and Ken welcomed the addition of Grandchildren into their family. After Ken’s passing in July 2015, Bonnie’s family continued to grow with the addition of Great Grandchildren. Family was always Bonnie’s first priority.  She took her role as the family matriarch seriously. For years, she kept everyone fed and prevented the enlarging family from drifting apart by hosting a family Sunday supper. She could problem solve with calm wisdom, provide guidance on numerous topics, share her knowledge (whether you wanted it or not) and dispensed her support where needed without fail. Her sharp wit and sense of humour, though sometimes sarcastic, provided those around her with laughter. She was a voice of reason, a source of comfort, and someone who gave herself fully and selflessly to those she loved. Letters and calls to friends, conversations with coworkers, were rife with pictures and the latest accomplishments and progress of her dear ones. Whether it was a warm meal, a thoughtful gesture, acting as the family’s “found it on sale” sleuth or personal shopper, Bonnie expressed her love through the care she gave to others.
Her work life reflected that same dedication. Bonnie had a curious mind. Always eager to learn something new. In her 40’s, she went back to school, taking evening classes at the local community college and completed both Rehabilitation Worker Certification and the Early Childhood Educator ll. She became an Approved Home Operator, providing care and stability to those in need. Simultaneously, she found her true calling in 1992 with a career at Accent On Kids, an Early Childhood Learning Centre, where she worked for 27 years until her retirement in 2019. There, she not only nurtured and guided countless children, but also advocated fiercely for the children under her care, ensuring they were supported, protected and valued. Retirement provided her with more time to dote on her family, read books and enjoy summers, barefoot under her backyard gazebo with her four legged  companion, Sam. She loved having family and friends come to visit. One month in particular, several years ago, stood out in her memory. A time when there was a steady stream of visitors that traveled from different parts of the country consecutively: Nanci, Jennie, Diana, Mary Jane, just to mention a few.
Bonnie loved to bake! She tried lots of new recipes and shared the successful ones with friends and family. During the Covid pandemic, she continued to turn tasty treats out of her kitchen and gifted them to her willing family. It wasn’t uncommon to respond to her special knock on the door, (to the tune of “Shave and a Haircut, Two Bits”), to open it and find her smiling face handing out a wicker basket full of freshly baked goods.
In her home, she proudly displayed family heirlooms and all the “old junk” she had collected since childhood. In a glass display, along with her Great Grandmother’s dishes, her Grandmother’s and Grandfather’s ribbon from their wedding cake knife, and many other treasures, sits a framed antique photo from the early 1900s of “Aunt Sally”. Aunt Sally came to be part of our family when Bonnie found the photograph sitting on a shelf at the Salvation Army with a sale tag. When asked why she brought a stranger’s photo home, she responded that, “Someone didn’t care enough to keep her in their family, so she can be part of ours.” Thanks to Bonnie’s research for new information and the care she put into preserving family heirlooms, her family has inherited a wealth of family history and stories to be passed to the next generations.
Bonnie never cared for tributes that painted people as flawless saints, so it’s only fitting to speak plainly. She was strong, intelligent, comical and fiercely persistent (she wouldn’t tolerate being called stubborn because “persistent” sounds classier). To those meeting her for the first time, she could seem intense. Many of her friends, colleagues and the fast friends she made along the way, would admit they found her intimidating at first, until they got to know her. With Bonnie, you always knew where she stood; she didn’t sugarcoat her opinions, and debating her was rarely a winning endeavour. She was unapologetically direct, could swear like a sailor, and stood firmly by her convictions. When Bonnie was in your corner, advocating for you, things got done, and she pushed everyone around her, to be their very best. One of the many pieces of advice she gave, was don’t make promises you can’t keep. She recently reminded a school friend of her daughter, that 40 years ago, she had promised to get up and sing, “Ding Dong The Witch Is Dead” upon her passing. Stretch out those vocal chords friend, a promise, is a promise.

She will be lovingly remembered by her children, Kendra (Kevin) and Bradley (Alanna); her grandchildren and bonus grandchildren, Jayce (Kendall), Brant (Jaedyn), Haley (Chris), Austin, Kailym (Ti), Rallen, Daiden (Kaylee), Lian, Eira, Rachel Scarlet, and Alex; her great grandchildren and bonus great grandchildren, Harlow, Nevaeh, Brielle, Merrick and the two unborn great grandchildren she was so eager to meet (boy due in May and girl due in July), but never had the chance to hold; her extended family, coworkers, friends and neighbours.
Bonnie’s family would like to express their gratitude for the care she received during her extended stay at the Yorkton Regional Health Centre and brief stay at Jowsey House. She spoke highly of the friendships created with several of her caregivers. To those that made a positive difference in her time spent there, your kindness and compassion will not be forgotten.
Donations can be made to the Health Foundation of East Central Saskatchewan.

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