HAND-HOWARD, Bonnie (Bernice)

Bonnie Hand-Howard, 80 of Prescott, formerly Phoenix, died on 6/13/03 in Prescott. Born, 6/20/22 in Mitchell, S. Dakota, with the given name: Bernice B. Brooks, she was the daughter of Grover and Ethel Orr Brooks. One of 7 sisters and 2 brothers, she grew up on a farm by the James River near Mitchell, graduating high school in 1941. She moved to Minneapolis, marrying Joseph Hand on 6/30/47. Relocating to Calif. in 1951, they owned an antique collection at Whitney's Cliff House on the Beach in San Francisco from '54-'59. They moved to Prescott in 1959. She worked for 10 yrs. at the VA Medical Ctr. as a Nursing Assistant. She graduated from Lampson's Business College, then worked for the State Health Lab Phoenix, retiring in 1985. She remarried on 5/8/93 to Willis (Bill) Howard and moved with her husband Bill, to Prescott in 3/2000. An outstanding poet, Bonnie also taught 4-H and tutored reading. She is survived by her husband, Bill Howard of Prescott, two daughters; Ramona Chavez of Illesheim, Germany, and Donna Hand-Olson of Prescott, three sisters; Beverly Vanderlugt of Everett, Wash., Darlene Vanderlugt of Mitchell, S. Dakota, Mary Ann Willis of Alto Loma, Calif., numerous nieces and nephews, and two grandchildren; Amanda Gerace of Flagstaff, AZ., and Conor Handolson of Prescott, AZ. Services will be Monday June 30, 2003, at 10:00 am at Resthaven Park, 4310 E. Southern Ave., Phoenix. Any donations given in Bonnie's name may be directed towards a children's charity of choice. Published in The Arizona Republic on 6/22/2003.