Bonnie Kraupp

Our beautiful daughter, wife, mother, Nana, and friend passed away Sunday, December 24, 2023, at Teton Healthcare of Cascadia in Idaho Falls. Bonnie Ann Jones Kraupp passed in her sleep after 84 years of a long, full life.

Bonnie Ann Jones was born on February 25, 1939, in Idaho Falls, Idaho, to Aaron LaVern Jones and Belva Ann Adamson Jones. She was the third child of four, and the first to survive. After a difficult birth, the nurses found a janitor who luckily had the Melchizedek Priesthood, who gave her a blessing. She was named after the little girl in Gone with The Wind. A movie she grew up loving. As a young girl, Mom was ill with Rheumatic Fever which would cause a-fibrillation in her heart during the last years of her life.

Mom attended Hawthorne Grade School, O.E. Bell Junior High, and Idaho Falls High school, graduating in 1957, where she met the love of her life, James Gerald Kraupp, one class above her. In the fall of 1957, she attended Brigham Young University for a secretarial and business degree. However, she was constantly distracted by her love, James, and left school to start a family instead.

On March 15, 1958, Bonnie married her lifelong partner, our late father, James Gerald Kraupp. In their 62 years of marriage, they brought four beautiful children into the world. First came Synthia “Sindi” Ann. Two years later Anntoinette “Toni” J. Then came Troy James four years later, and after an additional six years, Brady Gerald.

During high school Bonnie worked at Dairy Queen and after becoming a mother, she worked at Kings Variety Store while raising a family with her loving husband. During the 1960’s and 1970’s she engaged in the Chit Chat Club organizing social gatherings and made life-long friends and was active in the LDS church as part of Young Womens, Primary, and the Relief Society. She was also involved with her children’s Parent Teacher Associations. In the early 1970’s she went on to provide data entry services for several businesses. In 1981, she became a certified ceramics teacher and opened her own “Bonnie’s Ceramics” shop out of her home. For a decade she created a variety of ceramic gifts and sculptures for her family and friends while giving a space to the local community to do the same. During the 1990’s she was the Idaho Falls Garden Club President, and worked part-time at D&L cleaners as seamstress and would become an Avon representative for the area. She also worked local elections.

Throughout her life, Bonnie was on her feet and always doing something with her hands. She loved all sorts of arts and crafts that included ceramics and sewing outfits, wedding dresses, and matching quilts for grandchildren. Even in her old age, she had a coloring book. She enjoyed spending her time outside in her personal garden tending to her assorted flowers and every summer would have a bountiful harvest of potatoes, tomatoes, and cucumbers for her family. She often cooked breakfast, lunch, and dinner for her loved ones, making enough for the entire neighborhood, and enjoyed collecting and sharing recipes. She had fresh baked bread almost every day. At night, she would sneak chocolate from the candy drawer while watching cooking shows. She loved to shop, if she had her way, she would have bought everything and anything she could get her hands on to only give it away to those she thought would enjoy it most. She enjoyed decorating and often had a style described as romantic.

We will remember Mom mostly for everywhere she went and how everyone became her friend. Within a few moments of conversation, she would learn their genealogy and decide if she was related. Mom was soft and fiercely caring, and a mother driven crazy by her deep love for her children and family.

Mom is survived by her children, Synthia Ann Crowton (Robert) of Idaho Falls, Idaho; Anntoinette J. Welch (Richard) of Rigby Idaho; Troy James Kraupp of Idaho Falls, Idaho; and Brady Gerald Kraupp of Idaho Falls, Idaho. She is also survived by eight grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.

Mom joins her late husband and the love of her life for 62 years, James Gerlad Kraupp (2020); She is preceded in death by a brother, A.L. Jones (1934); a brother, Baby Aaron Jones (1938); a sister, Judy LaVern Jones (1942); a niece, Amy Jane Kraupp (1970); a daughter, Nicole Geri Kraupp (1972); her Mother, Belva Ann Adamson Jones Saxton (1979); Father-in-law, Joseph Aloyisius Kraupp (1981); Mother-in-law, Julia Emelia Smith Kraupp (1988); Brother-in-law, Richard LeRoy Kraupp (1997); her Father, Aaron LaVern Jones (1997); a nephew, Jeffrey Scott Kraupp (2006); and Brother-in-law, Jacob Frank Kraupp (2013).

The family would like to give a special thanks to staff at Teton Healthcare of Cascadia of Idaho Falls, Lupé, Rose (Biscuit), Michelle, Chris, Gabby, Rebecca, Janeice, Kelly, Jerry, and Michael. Thank you all for the special interest and care you gave our Mom during the last fourteen months of her life.

Per mom’s request, a private family graveside service will be held Tuesday, January 2, 2024. Interment will be at the Hillcrest Cemetery in Shelley, Idaho. Mom loved flowers! So, please do not hesitate to send them, she would appreciate any sent.

Condolences can be sent to the family at www.woodfuneralhome.com.