Bonnie Knouse Barton

Bonnie Jean Bolen Knouse Barton was born July 14, 1925 in Sharon Springs, Kansas.  She passed away peacefully on February 10, 2018 in the Life Care Rehab Center in Longmont.  She was 92 years old.

Bonnie was the oldest of six children born to Georgia and Lester Bolen and was raised on her family’s farm in Wallace County.  She graduated from Wallace County High School.  On January 5, 1945 she married Delmar Knouse.  The happy couple worked as County Treasure and County Clerk for many years.  In 1958, Bonnie and Delmar purchased an insurance company together, adding this new business to their previously established accounting and tax service.

Bonnie and Delmar raised four children in their hometown of Sharon Springs.  Bonnie found great joy in creating a happy home and taking care of her family, from cooking and sewing to typing school papers.  She loved music and was often caught singing along to her favorite albums while she worked.  She was an avid fan of baseball, Dancing with the Stars, reading, traveling and working on her precious family photo albums.  Bonnie was also well known as the family historian, creating impressive, detailed records which will be cherished by generations to come.

Bonnie’s beloved husband Delmar passed away on February 16, 1987.  Later in life, Bonnie reconnected with Tom Barton, a fellow Wallace County native and friend since childhood, and they were married in 2000.  The couple had many wonderful years of traveling the country, going to music and comedy shows, and happy companionship before Tom passed away on March 27, 2013.

A friend of the community, wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, Bonnie’s strong will and unique spirit will be missed by all who knew her.  Bonnie loved visits from her family, especially her grandchildren and great grandchildren, and had many happy memories of family reunions, family lunches in Goodland, and 500 piece jigsaw puzzles.  Visits from her dedicated friend Nikki Chubb and her children, as well as the children of neighbors Amie and Patrick Gibbs, also added great joy to the last few years of her life.

Bonnie truly loved Wallace County and made it her home for life.  Despite opportunities to move with job offers for Delmar, and later to live with her children in Colorado and Massachusetts, she chose to stay in Sharon Springs.  Bonnie remained in the same home and community where she had raised a family and lived a long fulfilling life.

Bonnie was preceded in death by her parents, her two husbands and a daughter Dara Nichols.

She is survived by her children David (Terry) Knouse of Montague, TX, Debra (Robert) Katseff of North Andover, MA, Delwin (Caron) Knouse of Longmont, CO and a son-in-law Larry Nichols of Colleyville, TX.  She is also survived by her grandchildren Shane, Jennifer, Miranda, and Collin Knouse; Adam (Amy) Katseff and Jeffrey Katseff; Cory Lee Knouse; Ryan (Amanda) Knouse; Kendra (Robert) Bertolozzi; and Cory Jack Bruner; 5 great grandchildren; one brother Guy (Marlene) Bolen, one sister Marie (Gary) Walker and sister-in-law (Bill’s) Marlene Bolen.  Her family also includes many wonderful nieces and nephews.