Bonnie Marie (Jenkins) Hoover was born February 28, 1934 to Joseph Ulysess Jenkins & Leona Mabel (Cloud) Jenkins in a sod hut in Lincoln County, Colorado. Her grandpa gave her the nickname of Cottontop. She went home to be with the Lord on January 18, 2024 at the age of 89.
She and several of her siblings went to Fountain School in Colorado Springs, so they boarded with other families and went home on the weekends. The Jenkins family had a bull, that when as kids they would pull his testicles he would allow them to climb on and ride him home.
Bonnie was watching a set of twins when she met Floyd E. Hoover where he was working for Smith Cattle Company. They married on November 9, 1952. She cooked for ranch hands and drove a station wagon as a school bus while having 2 or 3 kids of her own along for the ride. She also sold tupperware on the side. They moved to MT in 1959 for Floyd to continue working for Smith Cattle Company and had two more daughters.
Over the years she has worked many jobs including working for Beacon Carter, Lohman Motors, H&R Block, 600 Cafe, and Smith Livestock first as cook to the hired hands, then later as their secretary.
She was a member of the various beef/homemaker clubs. She was active on the school board at Trail Creek School. She loved sharing her knowledge of cooking and beef by working with many different clubs either demonstrating how to or judging cookoffs. She also liked quilting. She loved spending time with family especially the great grandkids and playing pinochle.
She is survived by two brothers Bill (Marlyn) Jenkins & John (Judy) Jenkins. Her children, daughter Sheryl Whitney (Dwayne) of Miles City, son Bruce Hoover of Miles City, son Keith (Barb) Hoover of Ismay, daughter Jenifer Villeneauve of Glasgow, and daughter Julie (RJ) Hubbard of St. Marie. Grandchildren Josh, Seth (Casey), Tessa Whitney. Terry (Ann) Nass, Michelle Berry, Cactus (Mike) Steelman, Autumn (Layne) Murnion. Kayla (Joe) Kiel, Jeremy (Brittany) Hoover. Greg Villeneauve. And numerous great grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, and nieces & nephews.
Visitation will be held Sunday, January 28, 2024 at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City with family receiving friends from 4:00-6:00 p.m. A funeral service will be held on Monday, January 29, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. at Stevenson's Funeral Home in Miles City. Interment will follow at the Eastern Montana State Veterans Cemetery. Following the burial please join the family at the VFW for a time of fellowship. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting: http://www.stevensonand sons.com.
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