Bonnie Vesta Jenks
Bonnie Vesta Jenks, 76, our dear sweet Bonnie passed away June 1, 2017 in Libby due to complications after fighting an infection.
Bonnie Vesta (Pennington) Jenks was born to Oliver and Roxie (McNurlen) Pennington on October 26, 1940 in American Falls, Idaho. She graduated from Kellogg High School in Kellogg, Idaho with the class of 1958 with her dear friend, the late JoAnn Calkins by her side (whom she later named her daughter after). She traveled to Virginia to care for her friend while she was sick later returning to Kellogg. On September 1, 1962 she married the love of her life, Jerry Mason Jenks, and nine months later gave birth to her “Favorite” son Robin Mason Jenks. In 1971 she gave birth to her “Favorite” daughter Jeri Ann (Jenks) Chapel.
Bonnie worked as a car hop at “The Boat” drive in restaurant in Smelterville, Idaho in her younger years. She then became a registered dietitian working at West Shoshone General Hospital/Shoshone Medical Center for many years. She talked often about the numerous friends she made while employed there and the good times and many laughs they all had. In 1987 she and Jerry moved their family to Troy, where they had family and she soon was employed as a dietitian at St. John’s Lutheran Hospital in Libby, where she worked until she retired.
She enjoyed spending time with family and friends, quilting, embroidering, gardening and caring for her family and her animals that she loved so much. She also enjoyed antiques and loved making old things look new again, spending hours and days washing, waxing, sanding and painting. Bonnie volunteered at Kootenai Pets for Life for several years where she dearly loved being “The Cat Whisperer.”
Bonnie was quick witted and will always be remembered for her especially fun personality and laughter. She loved joking with anyone and everyone. Her family will miss her stories of “Big Bill” at the Troy Senior Center giving her a hard time and never forgetting to tell us she seen “Hocks” around the neighborhood or in town. She loved being teased by Tracy (The Bread Man) about “Those Troy Women.” She explained to her friends and family her appreciation for “A man wearing a tool belt” and truly enjoyed when the St John’s Kitchen Crew and Tom put that into a skit. Bonnie’s life was filled with so much fun and laughter, most of which was started by her. Her family thinks her favorite songs would have to be “The Party Pooper” (every party has a pooper that’s why we invited you) and “It’s my party and I’ll cry if I want to” because she sang those a lot.
Extra special thanks to her granddaughter Julia and daughter-in-law Cathy who rarely left her side during her illness and to granddaughter Ashley for her special trip from Nevada to help take care of her grandma. Special thanks to the staffs at Cabinet Peaks Medical Center, Kalispell Regional and Libby Care Center (Special Unit) for all of your help and support over our stays with you all. Thank you to the Troy Volunteer Ambulance, Libby Volunteer Ambulance and Evergreen Volunteer Ambulance for the jobs you do every day helping people like us.
Preceded in death are her parents Oliver and Roxie Pennington, brother Grover Pennington and sister Mary Nelson.
Survivors include her husband Jerry and son Robin Jenks and his wife Cathy of Libby; daughter Jeri Ann Chapel and husband Doug of Troy; granddaughter Ashley (Jenks) Redd and husband Jerry of Carlin, Nevada; granddaughter Julia Jenks of Libby; grandson Mason Chapel of Troy; granddaughter Paige Chapel of Troy; grandson Evan Jenks of Libby; brother Wayne Pennington of Enaville, Idaho; sisters Helen Carroll of Noxon and Virginia Drier of Kellogg, Idaho; and several nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, donations to Kootenai Pets for Life (PO Box 1454, Libby, MT 59923) would be appreciated. Cards may be mailed C/O Robin Jenks, 1943 Farm to Market Rd., Libby MT, 59935. A BBQ celebration of Bonnie’s life will be June 24 at Robin and Cathy’s home in Libby.
Arrangements are by Schnackenberg & Nelson Funeral Home in Libby. Online condolences and memories may be shared at www.schnackenbergfh.com.