Bonnie Gay (Hilliard) Boberg Dec. 10, 1943 - Apr.1 2026 Bonnie Gay Hilliard Boberg was born Dec. 10, 1943 in Evanston, IL to George I. Hilliard and Gail L. Ballenger Hilliard. Bonnie was raised in Framingham, MA; Wilmette, IL; and Edina, MN. An active and somewhat "rebellious" teen, she graduated in 1961 from Edina High School and in 1965 from the University of Minnesota with a BA degree in Social Work.

She was employed as a social worker in McCleod and Hennepin counties before marrying Howard Conrad Boberg of Duluth, MN on May 18, 1968. She and Howard enjoyed an active life skiing every weekend in the winter with the Unisys Ski Club and spending their summers building and enjoying their cabin on Bassett Lake, north of Duluth. They resided in Burnsville, MN, raising their children Heidi Lyn and Michael Howard, until Howard died in 1989. Bonnie then remained in Burnsville until she died.

Bonnie was one of the original employees for the weekly community newspaper, the Current, often sharing her love for journalism by writing editorials and columns about her many social justice and other causes. She started by doing freelance reporting on the local school board. After many buy-outs and mergers of the papers, she retired 35 years later from the metro area Sun Newspaper chain as a managing editor for a number of suburban weekly papers, primarily serving Dakota County.

Bonnie, who strongly believed in serving others, was also active in her community serving as President of the local League of Women Voters and as an activist in local politics. She served on the Board of Directors for the Burnsville Historical Society and the Woodhurst East Condominiums. She volunteered as a member of St. James Lutheran Church and then more recently at Prince of Peace. She was active for many years as a caseworker for the Red Cross and also for the Community Resource Center at her church. She served as an election judge once she turned 80 and organized a community food drive for Mission Outpost. In her last year of life she organized a political protest rally in Burnsville that to her Surprise and amazement drew 4,000 people to come show their support.

Bonnie was also an avid (some might say rabid) bridge player and reader, juggling 3 bridge groups and 4 book clubs at one time.
Bonnie always wanted her legacy to focus on her dedication to her friends and family. She was involved with her "ladies group" enjoying many meals and trips all over the country for more than 50 years! But, her dedication, especially as Grandma B, was seen through being there when her children were involved in any kind of activity—all the way into their adult lives, to extend to being with her 6 grandchildren from the minute they were born (literally with her oldest grandchild) through every soccer, hockey, football, lacrosse, dance line, ski meet, tennis, volleyball, baseball, cross country, orchestral and choral concert, and school event for more than 20 plus years! Bonnie lived her life with both joys and sorrows, but most importantly with love!

Bonnie was preceded in death by her husband Howard, her parents, her mother-in-law and father-in-law Esther and George, her brother-in-law George and his wives, Judy and Jane; brother-in-law Gale; and aunts and uncles and cousins. Bonnie is survived by her children and their spouses, Heidi Lyn and Mark O'Connor and Michael Howard and Chrissy Simpson Boberg; grandchildren, Ingrid, Magnus and Evan O'Connor and Emily, Matthew and John Boberg; sister and husband Pat and Bob Dobbelaere; brother and wife Jim and Dianne Wold Hilliard; brother-in-law Roger Boberg and partner Trudi; and cousins, Helen Kendall and late husband Bill Sanford, and George Kendall and late wife MaryAnn, Mike Ballenger and wife, and Kelly Simmons; many nieces, nephews and loving friends.

Memorial service 11:00 am April 16, 2026  at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 13801 Fairview Dr., Burnsville. Visitation at church at 10:00 am  Private ceremony later at Park Hill Cemetery in Duluth, MN and at Bassett Lake