Bonnie Lou Hale Tate Sheppard



October 2, 1930 - May 8th, 2014


Born in Norfolk Nebraska on October 2nd, 1930 to Virgil and Viola Hale. Her Dad was a Druggist at the local Drug Store in Tilden. She graduated High School in Norfolk Nebraska in 1947. She attended Chadron State Colege and aquired a teaching degree and procured a teaching job in the sandhills of Nebraska where she met her first Husband, Harry Lee Tate From Crookston Nebraska. They were married in 1951. She bore 2 children, Harry Lee Jr 1952 and Earl Gordon 1953. Harry was killed in his own private plane hunting coyotes shortly after Earl was born in 1953. She moved to Omaha later that year and met Lloyd Don Sheppard. They were married in 1956. Lloyd Don had 2 children, Lloyd Don Jr. in 1950 and Dianne Evonne in 1951. Their first child together was Lynn Matthew in 1957. Bonnie worked for the phone company before she and Don and family moved to York Nebraska to head up the kitchen at "Mother's Jewels Home". They moved to Longmont Colorado in 1959 where Don worked for Home Lumber Company before moving to Allenspark Colorado later in 1959 where Daniel Allen was born. Bonnie Laurie was born in 1965 and died in 1965 of SIDS. Bonnie & Don adopted Anna Louise in 1966. Bonnie attended Colorado University in Boulder Colorado where she earned a degree in special education. Bonnie and moved to Boulder where Phillip Hale 1969 was born. Bonnie and Don bought the old Methodist church in Niwot Colorado in 1971 and started thier group care home for abused, mentally and phisically handicapped children. She moved to Santa Cruz California where she headed up the Head Start program in Southern California. Bonnie and Don were divorced in 1975 and Bonnie moved back to Allenspark for several years before moving back to Longmont Colorado. She later moved to a care facility in Sandy Utah where Phillip & family cared for her until her passing May 8th, 2014. Bonnie was loved & will be missed by her 8 children, 17 grand children, 18 great grandchildren, and one great great grandchild.



Bell Telephone ID 1947

The wedding 1956

Home in Omaha late 1957 5 kids, Bliz, Dianne, Lee, Earl, Lynn

Family Portrait 1956

At her parents in Omaha 1961

York Nebraska in 1958 Our new VW Campmobile

Meadow Cabin in Allenspark 1961

Family portrait in 1960

Our rented Camper on the new truck 1963

Mom's "Bonnie Greens From The Rockies" Promo Picture 1965

Mom with her Mom 1980's

Mom and her infamous silver Alto Saxaphone, She played & Dad sang!

Sheppard's Group Care Home in Niwot 1972
Mom's 81st Birthday in Sandy at Phil's house Lee visits Mom in Sandy 2013


Please click here to email Lee if changes need to be made! I tried to be as accurate as possible.