Bonnie Lou Christiansen was born July 24, 1930, to Loran and Lucy (Hawk) Libby, in a farm home in Holt County, Nebraska.  She was the first of three children. Her parents and two brothers Ronald and Gene, preceded her in death. She passed away on March 4, 2023, at The Cottages in Pella, Iowa.

Bonnie attended school in Nebraska and earned her master's degree in Social Work. She went on to be a teacher and counselor for the Omaha Public Schools. Bonnie loved the outdoors and spending time feeding wildlife at her cabin in Nebraska. She was active in her church and community of Burwell, Nebraska. Most of all, Bonnie enjoyed spending time with her family.

On August 22, 1950, she was united in marriage to Norman Christiansen, to this union two children were born. Their son Richard, born on December 20, 1952, died after a motorcycle accident in 1975. He left a wife and one son Randall. A daughter Julie born June 16, 1960, now lives in Iowa, with her four children: A.J. Bernhagen, Cassie Ahrens, Trevor Bernhagen, and Chelsey Bernhagen. Her husband Norman Christiansen, and her son-in-law Monte Bernhagen also preceded her in death.