Bonnie Eileen Ruffing

Bonnie Eileen Ruffing, 72-year-old, passed away peacefully on Saturday, June 4, 2016 at her home in Worland.

Bonnie was born on August 20, 1943 in Worland, WY, to Nathaniel Don and Irene (Reiber) Mower. She was the oldest of 4 children, Janice, Don, and David. She graduated from Worland High School in 1961. While working at the Worland Café she met the love of her life, Jim Ruffing. Their meeting was not quite typical, as she threw a hamburger at him and then proceeded to tell him "marry me and make my life miserable". He did, on March 17, 1962, and they never regretted a day together.

Bonnie and Jim had 2 children born unto them, a daughter Nannette, and a son Nathan. For Bonnie, her children were her world, her family was her priority. She would go without to make sure her husband and children had what they needed before meeting her own needs. She loved all children, even those that were not her own, even "adopting" Sheila, Sid, Brent, Dave, and Allen.

Bonnie and Jim as a team ran Camp Solitude in the Big Horn Mountains for many years, providing outfitting services for folks all across the country. Bonnie would cook all the meals, clean up, and also help Jim guide their guests and for 10 years hunted elk on her own. During their time in Hyattville they also owned the Paint Rock Bar for many years before moving back to Worland.

Bonnie was an amazing woman who could figure out a menu for 1 to 100. She could take a small amount and turn it into a feast. She would try new things, succeeding at each attempt. She did portraits, she loved her collections, loved cooking, and each thing she tried brought her joy. Bonnie never met a stranger; she became fast friends with anyone she met, which is why there was always room for "one" more. She would never turn anyone away, and was also fair about sharing. When it came to sharing, sharing her love for her family was easy. She not only loved her children, but her grandchildren and great-grandchildren lit up her world. She would always be ready to "go" with anyone because she loved adventure, especially when they took her to Riverton and the Casino! She would always greet you with a smile, a hug, and a kiss hello. She always made sure to tell you she loved you when you left her to go home.

She would make Jim dance all over the dance floor as she loved to dance, and was good at it! Watch her "twist"! Bonnie's favorite time of the year was Christmas, because this meant her whole family would be together and nothing made her happier. Bonnie was also a 2-time cancer survivor. She beat ovarian cancer, and colon cancer, only to be taken sadly by a broken heart.

Bonnie was predeceased by her father Nathaniel Mower, mother Irene Mower, brother David Mower, and grandson Tyler Lincoln.

Bonnie is survived by her loving husband Jim, children, Nannette (Tommy) Shuman, Nathan (Lisa) Ruffing all of Worland, and Sheila (Carl) Lincoln of Elko, NV; grandchildren DJ (Mandy) Shuman, Christopher Shuman, Danyelle Lincoln, Parker and Hunter Ruffing; great-grandchildren Thomas and James Shuman; sister Janice (Bob) Hance, brother Don (Faye) Mower, and many nieces, nephews, cousins, in-laws and friends.

Funeral services will be held in conjunction with Bonnie's mother, Irene, on Friday June 10, 2016 at 11:00 A.M. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with her nephew, Pastor Don D. Mower officiating the services. Burial will follow at the Riverview Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Worland. Visitation for family and friends will be 7:00 p.m. Thursday, June 9 at Bryant Funeral Home Chapel. Memorial donations may be made out in her honor to the Wyoming Relay for Life c/o Bryant Funeral Home, PO Box 524, Worland, WY 82401. Online condolences may be made at http://www.bryantfuneralhomeonline.com.