Bonnie Gudahl

Bonnie (Merriman) Gudahl, 81, of Salem, SD passed away on July 28, 2020 surrounded by her beloved family. A memorial service will be held at the Unite Church in Salem, on August 7, 2020 at 10:30. The family requests the wearing of masks and practice social distancing at the service. Bonlyn Faye was born in Mitchell, SD on Oct. 28, 1938, five minutes before her twin brother Ronnie, to Fred and Gladys Merriman of Howard, SD. Bonnie graduated from Howard High School and married her high school sweetheart Gary Gudahl.

When Gary finished college, he and Bonnie moved to Emery, and then Lake Preston, SD. where Gary taught high school. Along the way, Mom had the more difficult job of raising five wild children and several equally challenging dogs and eventually resided in Salem, SD. She was employed at Charlie’s Meat Market, Pleasant Acres Lounge/Cafe, helped manage the Salem Golf Course with her husband, information guide at I-90 Rest Area and ended up at Hutchinson Technology in Sioux Falls until retirement.  She was an active member of Salem’s Unite Church, where she sang in the choir and was a member of Women’s Christian Fellowship. She was also an active sister of P.E.O. and a member of the Red Hat Society. She dearly loved to travel and visit her family often. Bonnie is survived by the loving community of Salem; her children Kevin (Alyson) Gudahl, Chicago; Robin Gudahl, Howard; Tim Gudahl, Pierre; Dawn (Jeff) Wood, Littleton, CO; and Brenda (Pat) Jolley, Canistota; her brothers Ron (Kay) Merriman, Pierre and Lyle (Margie) Merriman, Lakeland, MN; nine grandchildren; seven great grandchildren and a host of nieces and nephews. She’s preceded in death by her loving husband of 64 years, Gary; and her parents. In lieu of flowers, the family would request donations be directed to the church or the family for disbursement to hospice and Bonnie’s other favorite charities.