Bonnie Darlene Lapp

Bonnie Darlene (Overby) Lapp was born June 4, 1935 in LaPrairie, South Dakota, the eldest of four children born to Lyle Bertrand and Hazel Hoien Overby. At the age of seven, Bonnie's parents relocated their family to Portland, Oregon to find work in the shipyards. Bonnie developed her love of music from an early age, playing the French horn and the piano, later describing piano as her "instrument of enjoyment." She attended Roosevelt High School where she played the French horn for the school orchestra and met the love of her life, a tall, comedic percussionist and bass player, Rex Scott Lapp. She graduated in 1952. Bonnie and Rex were married on February 21, 1953, one day before driving cross-country to Florida so Rex could report for duty, having enlisted in the U.S. Navy post-graduation. For two years the young couple lived in various places, including Hawthorne, Nevada, where they welcomed twin sons Raymond Lyle and Randall Rex, on January 31, 1955. Following active duty, Rex and Bonnie returned to Portland and soon welcomed their third son, Richard Orin, on March 21, 1958. Settling into life in their hometown, Rex and Bonnie eventually purchased the home of their dreams in the Garden Home neighborhood where they raised their sons and lived happily together until Rex died suddenly September 10, 2002, and where Bonnie continued to reside for many years. As a working mom, Bonnie held several positions, primarily working at data processing service bureaus and eventually payroll and personnel management for Caffall Brothers Forest Products, before her retirement in 2000. An accomplished pianist from childhood, Bonnie dedicated her gift to serving the LORD as an accompanist for her church and various choirs, serving first at St. John's Wesleyan Methodist in Portland, followed by Beaverton Nazarene (now Nexus Church) where she and Rex attended and faithfully served in various facets of church life. Bonnie is survived by her youngest brother, David Overby, her sons, Ray (Donna), Randy (Rita), Rick (Jami); six grandchildren - Adam (Melissa) Lapp, Tiffany (Ryan) Petit, Casey (Brent) Anderson, Tenille (Brad) Johnson, Emma Lapp, and Hannah Lapp, and 13 great-grandchildren: Madeline, Aubrey, and Cameron Lapp; Isla, Corban, Audra, and Cruz Petit; Eamon, Ezra, Eli, and Ella Anderson; Jericho and Emberlyn Johnson. Bonnie was pre-deceased by her husband Rex, parents Lyle and Hazel (Murdock), siblings Sharon Boddington, and Ardon Overby, and granddaughter Tasha Dawn Lapp. She will be remembered fondly for the lavish holiday dinners she hosted, sharing her culinary skills and beautiful home with her entire family tree for many joyous feasts! In the words of Jesus, found in John 14:1-3, He tells us: "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also." That day came for Bonnie on August 9, 2024, when, after an extended battle with breast cancer, she was welcomed into the arms of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. A memorial service will be held September 14, 2024 at 4pm at Nexus Church (12555 SW Hall Blvd., Beaverton, Oregon). In lieu of flowers, the family suggests in memoriam gifts to Nexus Church.

Bonnie Darlene Lapp

June 4, 1935 - August 9, 2024