LaVonne "Bonnie" Gaikowski

LaVonne "Bonnie" Gaikowski, 92, of Waubay, passed away, Friday, April 18, 2025, at Bethesda Home in Webster.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30am Friday, April 25, 2025, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Waubay. Interment will be at the Waubay Catholic Cemetery.

Visitation will be 5-7pm Thursday, April 24, 2025, with a nurses honor guard tribute at 6 PM, followed by a 7pm wake service at the church.

Lavonne Emogene Town Gaikowski was born March 12th, 1933, to William and Alvira Town in Waubay SD. She was the 3rd of three children, she had 2 brothers Truman and Bill Town. Her parents owned and operated the “Town’s Bakery “in Waubay. Bonnie worked in the bakery/café during her younger years and into her high school years. She graduated from Waubay high school in 1951, where she was very active in band, choir, glee club and various other activities. After graduation she went on to Presentation college and received her RN nursing degree, and worked in Peabody hospital in Webster, as well as the school nurse in Waubay.

On June 23, 1956, she married her love Raymond Gaikowski, they made their home in Waubay South Dakota. To this union Ryan, Chuck, Chere’ and Bill were welcomed into the family. Ray and Bonnie lived in the Waubay area throughout their entire lives and farmed the land, raised and milked cattle, raised geese and various other animals.

Bonnie was quite active in the community with the Immaculate Conception Church serving on various boards in the church and song leader for several years. Her strong faith values in God brought her through many hardships that occurred. She passed her faith along to her children and grandchildren. She was an accomplished seamstress, exceptional baker, gardener and there just wasn’t anything that Bonnie couldn’t do, she would look at a project or an outfit and sit down and it was made within a short period even without a pattern to follow. Quilts, pajama sets, outfits, mittens, dolls and doll clothing coats she always made all of Ray’s shirts because his arms were so long that clothes were hard to find. Canning was also a favorite pastime that she enjoyed the preserving of fruits/vegetables of the land. Bonnie always had an open door for all with hot coffee and fresh baked goodies to enjoy. She was always the first to help those in need from medical assistance, to helping those grieving to cook a full meal for those who could not do so themselves. Her contagious laugh and quick wit had the whole room smiling and laughing.

Bonnie passed away on April 18, 2025 at the age of 92 years, she had 18 grandchildren, 33 great grandchildren and one bird Felix. She will be forever loved and greatly missed by her surviving children Chuck (Sandy) Gaikowski of Waubay, Chere’ (Scott) Bierschbach of Webster SD, Bill (Bonnie) Gaikowski of Watertown SD, all of her grandchildren and great grandchildren, many nieces and nephews, and sisters in law Pat Town and Doris Town and Delores Gronke.

She was preceded in death by her parents Bill and Alvira Town, husband Raymond, son Ryan, brothers Truman Bill and infant sister.

As Bonnie would leave to say good bye to those she loved, she would say “we will see you later when we ain’t so busy. A beautiful soul that will be dearly missed!