Bonnie Rae Gardner Budd

Bonnie Rae Gardner Budd, age 78, passed away on July 13, 2025, encircled by the love of her eight children and family. Her loved ones are comforted as they remember her words, “choose to be happy.” She truly lived by her words, and it was the lesson she most wanted her children and grandchildren to learn. Bonnie is joyfully reunited with her husband, Daryl Budd, and others who preceded her in death: father, Kenneth Gardner; mother, Norda Finlinson Gardner; sisters, Nancy Safsten and Geneal Sorenson; brother, Kenneth Gardner; grandson, Joshua Brown; and many other dear family and friends.

Bonnie, born April 3, 1947, was the third of six children. During her childhood in Clearfield, Utah, Bonnie worked hard alongside her siblings in their large garden and family home and at the Frost Top, the restaurant her parents owned. She was musically talented and learned to play the piano, organ, and viola. From the age of fifteen, Bonnie was the organist and pianist in every ward in which she lived. She expressed herself through music and used her talent to serve her church members, family, and friends. Bonnie, until her late fifties, played her viola in local schools, community orchestras, and productions.

In her youth, Bonnie attended Wasatch Elementary, North Davis Junior High School, and Clearfield High School, where she was involved in swimming, orchestra, and home economics. Bonnie participated in 4-H programs and served as the Litter-Bug Chair on the Beautification Committee for Clearfield. Over the next sixty years, Bonnie removed litter as a community service and enlisted the help of her children and grandchildren. In her golden years, Bonnie continued to clean up litter as she rode her Jazzy electric wheelchair around her neighborhood and in the assisted living center.

During her time at Weber State University, Bonnie became good friends with Daryl Budd while they carpooled to school. Later, his support was invaluable as she prepared for and served a mission in New Zealand for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Their friendship deepened as they exchanged letters during her mission. Daryl never mentioned that he felt an impression at her farewell that he was saying goodbye to his future wife.

When Bonnie returned from her mission, Daryl courted her as she completed her Bachelor of Science in Home Economics from Brigham Young University. Daryl and Bonnie married in the Salt Lake Temple on September 24, 1971. They soon welcomed their first child, and seven more children followed in close succession over the next 10 years. They raised their family in a little blue house in Bountiful, Utah.

Bonnie was a gifted homemaker who strove for faith and love over perfection. She showed tremendous patience, empathy, and unconditional love raising her boisterous family in a modest home. With Bonnie, no one was left out. She generously loved her nieces and nephews, her kids’ friends, her sons- and daughters-in-law, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Many benefitted from her gentle and sweet influence.

Bonnie put her talent for loving others to good use as a teacher. As a newlywed and while pregnant with her first child, Bonnie taught home economics at a junior high in Ogden, Utah.

After moving to Bountiful, Bonnie periodically taught for Davis County School District in various capacities, including substitute teacher, assistant teacher in the special education classroom, Head Start preschool teacher, and special needs seminary teacher. She was recognized for her empathy and talent for teaching individuals with disabilities. Bonnie also supported Daryl in his role as the director of the Institute of Religion in Pasadena, California. She played a vital role in helping students feel at home while they learned the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Bonnie also spent her time playing the viola in an orchestra at the Los Angeles Temple Visitors’ Center. She cultivated many enduring friendships during their five years there.

Bonnie’s deep appreciation of nature is something she inherited from her mother and something she shared with Daryl. Together, they took their children on many adventures - camping, backpacking, hiking, and canoeing throughout the Uinta, Teton, and Wasatch Mountains. Bonnie encouraged her children to appreciate the beauties around them even when circumstances weren’t ideal. It is a lesson her posterity holds dear.

During their 48 years of marriage, Bonnie and Daryl’s relationship was deep and enduring. They were best friends and equally dedicated to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Bonnie was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who lived the gospel with unique humility. She was completely willing to surrender to God’s will, which became evident when Daryl had a stroke in 2009. Bonnie became his caregiver, and after a year of struggle, they moved into Legacy House of Bountiful together. Things were not easy, but Bonnie often said that as long as they were together, everything would be okay. She was sustained by her faith in Jesus Christ and her unshakeable trust in God.

After Daryl passed away in 2019, she stayed busy with her hobbies. She crocheted socks, animals, purses, scarves, and shawls for everyone. She sewed, cross stitched, and knit. She spent hours doing puzzles, coloring, and crafting. She accumulated things over time that reminded her of particular family members, and when she had enough trinkets, she sent a big package of small wonders to her children and grandchildren. In the sunset of life, Bonnie collected pinecones on daily Jazzy strolls for crafts with her family and to donate to local schools. Bonnie’s hobbies gave her purpose and helped her bloom where she was planted.

Bonnie lived a quiet, meaningful life, and her faith and love had a deep impact on all who knew her. Our hope is to carry on her legacy to serve our family and others as well as she did.

Bonnie is survived by her eight children: Primila Bullough (Tim), Jenny Larsen, Zadok Budd (Kimberly), Jacob Budd (Elizabeth), Brigham Budd (Yadira), Emma Qoroya (Esala), Hannah Morkel (Tarquin), and Laura Riddle (Jacob). She is also survived by her grandchildren: Wyatt, Bryce (Caralyn), Cassandra, Jason (Emma), Jared, Elisabeth (Daniel), Kathryn, Z. Evan, Jane, Charles, Daniel, Amy, Brigham, Gabriela, Aaron, Samantha, Matthew, Megan, Jacob, Isabella, Summer, Leora, Finn, Amelia, Grace, Alea, Lacy, Juliet, and Marshall. As well as her great-grandchildren, Jaxon and Ann (with two more on the way).

Viewings will be held on Friday, July 25th, 2025, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Russon Mortuary (295 N. Main St., Bountiful, Utah), and Saturday, July 26th, 2025, from 11:45 to 12:45 p.m. at the Bountiful 26th Ward chapel, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (200 N. 200 W., Bountiful, Utah). The funeral service will take place at 1:00 p.m. after the Saturday viewing. The graveside service follows at Memorial Lakeview Cemetery (1640 E. Lakeview Dr., Bountiful, Utah). Please park east of the cemetery along Bountiful Blvd. and follow the markers to the graveside.

Services will be streamed live on the Russon Mortuary Live Facebook page and on this obituary page. The live stream will begin about 10-15 minutes prior to the service and will be posted below.