Bonnie Kay Amend

Bonnie Kay Amend died Tuesday, October 11, 2016 in her home in Worland after battling cancer.

Bonnie was born July 4, 1946 in Ogden, Utah, the second child of Donald and Mary Louise (Dyson) Amend. She lived in Laramie, Superior and Hyattville before moving to Worland with the family in 1952, the year she entered first grade at the old Northside School. She received all her education in the Worland schools and graduated from Worland High School in 1964.

Following graduation, she continued to live with her parents, and after the death of her father she served as a companion to her mother until her death. She began babysitting during her years at home and over the years took care of dozens of youngsters for working parents. They were all her kids, and she enjoyed watching their progress as they grew up. She remembered their birthdays and every year she attended graduation with homemade gifts for those she had taken care of.

She was the same with her family, never forgetting a birthday or graduation, and always finding little things to put in packages for Christmas. Even when she was struggling with her cancer, she insisted on shopping for a gift for a niece's new-born baby.

Bonnie remained a devoted Worland Warrior fan all her life and was a familiar figure at most of the Warriors' home games, especially football. She was proud that she had attended every home Warrior football game for 57 years, and was looking forward to attending the last home game of the season this week. She especially enjoyed the Warrior basketball teams' outstanding seasons this year and traveling to Casper to watch both the boys and girls win the state championship was a highlight for her. Several Warrior teams honored her for her faithful support over the years, and the District 1 school board honored her for her contributions to the schools as well.

Along with the Warriors, she was an avid Denver Broncos fan, even though she disliked quarterback Payton Manning, and she followed the Pittsburgh Pirates during the baseball season because she admired the late Roberto Clemente,

After her first bout with cancer, Bonnie devoted much of her energy to the search for cures for cancer. She was a dedicated supporter of the annual Relay for Life, and she logged many miles raising money for the cause. She donated money from her limited income and supplemented her donations with proceeds from a garage sale she held each spring. She participated in last summer's event, even though pain and fatigue kept her from walking very far.

Bonnie was a dedicated Christian throughout her life. She was a long-time member of First Baptist Church, where she was baptized as a young person. She was active in the youth group and helped with Sunday School. In recent years she attended First United Methodist, where she helped with Jenny's Store, Sunday School and Children's Church. She attended Church for the last time two days before her death.

When her cancer reappeared after several years in remission, she told God that she was in his hands, and her faith sustained her as the cancer destroyed her body.

Bonnie was preceded in death by her parents and her youngest brother, Jeffrey.

She is survived by the many children she cared for and loved over the years and the many friends she has made, especially those who have supported and helped her during her illness. Also surviving are her siblings Don (Karen) Amend of Powell, Pat (Nancy) Amend of Casper, Chris (Della Gay) Amend of Gillette and Lorie (Kent) Swenson of Omaha, Nebraska. In addition, she is survived by nieces and nephews Erica (Vad) Try, of Rochester, Minn., Joshua (Jennifer) Karsner-Amend of Niamey, Nijer, West Africa, Sarah (Joe) Amend-Marshal of Eagan, Minn., Becky (Nathan) Lane of Douglas, Daniel (Rachel) Amend of St. Clair, Mich., Jake (Amanda) Amend of Cumming, Ga., and Michael (Kelsey) Amend of St. Paul, Minn., and their 14 children, who she sometimes referred to as hers, special friends Jay and Dorothy Richard and Amy Reed, and the many people she worked for or took care of as children.

Bonnie's life will be celebrated at 4 p.m., Monday, October 17, 2016 at the Worland United Methodist Church. Please wear black and orange to honor Bonnie and "her" Worland Warriors. Online condolences may be made to http://www.bryantfuneralhomeonline.com.