Bonnie Amussen Benson Madsen

Bonnie Amussen Benson Madsen passed away peacefully on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2025 in Lehi, Utah. Her final days were spent surrounded by several of her six children, 25 grandchildren, and numerous great-grandchildren. Bonnie was a deeply loved wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother who will always be remembered for her unrelenting devotion to home, family, and the truth of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.

Bonnie was born to Ezra Taft and Flora Amussen Benson on March 30, 1940 in Washington, D.C., the fifth of six children. Due to her father’s service in both government and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Bonnie spent her childhood growing up in both Salt Lake City, Utah and the Washington, D.C. area. She graduated from Theodore Roosevelt High School in Washington, D.C. in 1958, where she was voted Most Friendly Girl. Bonnie’s genuine kindness and humility would be a hallmark throughout her life.

Bonnie attended Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah and American University in Washington, D.C., where she received an art scholarship. It was during these years that she met her beloved eternal companion, Lowell LeRoy Madsen. Bonnie and Lowell were married in the Salt Lake Temple for time and eternity on June 7, 1961, a marriage characterized by deep, mutual adoration and respect. Bonnie would spend the rest of her life celebrating her divine role as a wife and mother to six children. Bonnie was never happier than when she was surrounded by her family in her home.

During Bonnie’s teenage years, she accompanied her father on official travels throughout the world, visiting and meeting leaders and dignitaries of scores of countries. Despite her family’s prominence and growing up in the public eye, Bonnie always prized quietly living the restored gospel of Jesus Christ with her family in her home above all else. On countless occasions, Bonnie’s children would come home from school with an assignment to report on a foreign country, to which Bonnie would reply, “I’ve been there!” Bonnie would quickly return with an artifact from that country saying something like, “This was a gift from the Prime Minister.”

Bonnie and Lowell moved to Colorado in 1964, building their home in the Columbine area of Littleton in 1966. In this home, Bonnie conducted her life’s work, devoted to the nurturing and rearing of her family with humor, love, and faith. Bonnie served in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in numerous positions and supported her husband, Lowell, in his role as Stake Patriarch for over 28 years, welcoming thousands of people, primarily young people, to her home. Bonnie’s greatest and most constant service was the kindness and support she gave to countless individuals, always praising and encouraging others, especially other mothers, in their essential work.

Until we are reunited in our heavenly home, Bonnie’s posterity will miss her joyful giggle, her genuine glee upon our arrival and her sincere sadness upon our departure, her insatiable sweet tooth, her dry wit, her love of holidays and of every excuse to gather, the spirit and beauty she cultivated in her home, her ironclad faith, her fervent prayers, her unfailing optimism, and her constant encouragement and support. No one ever rejoiced more sincerely or prayed more fervently and effectively for her family.

Bonnie is survived by her six children, Mark Madsen (Erin), David Madsen (Camille, deceased), Susan Gentry (Todd), Heather Jones, John Madsen (Jenette), and Michael Madsen (Kimi), 25 grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren, and her sister, Flora (Beth) Benson Burton. She was preceded in death by her parents, Ezra Taft and Flora Amussen Benson, her siblings Reed Benson, Mark Benson, Barbara Benson, and Beverly Benson, and her devoted husband, Lowell Madsen. Bonnie and Lowell, eternal sweethearts, spent 63 consecutive Valentine’s Days together on this earth. Bonnie’s departure on Valentine’s Day joyfully continued that streak.

Bonnie asked that there not be a funeral, but a family gathering in her honor.