Submitted photo Pictured is Bonnie (Madden) Davis as a teenager on the lawn of her family's farm place in rural Lynd circa late 1940s. 

We have been learning about Bonnie Jean (Madden) Davis, whose life journey began on a rural Lynd farm. She attended the nearby District #2 country school for three years before transitioning to the Lynd Public Schools, graduating from Lynd High School in 1953. She attended college where she enrolled in a 2-year, associate’s degree program, planning to become a teacher.

“I attended Mankato State Teacher’s College. That’s what it was called at that time. I asked my dad if I could maybe stay (for a third year). I had an opportunity to teach, so I asked him if I could please stay for the rest of that three years and graduate with all the girls with whom I went to college and he let me. So, I guess I really had a three-year degree to start out.”

Bonnie began her teaching career in southwest Minnesota, but at a distance from Lynd.

“I taught first grade in Luverne, Minnesota for two years. It was in the old high school. They had built a new one and we, the grade school, were in the old Luverne High School.”

While working in Luverne, she pursued further college coursework toward her bachelor’s degree.

“When I was in Luverne, I would teach all day and two or three of us would drive back to Mankato for night school. So, that’s how I (completed) a lot of my degree work. It was some driving, yes, but I was younger. (Bonnie laughed) It was easier then.”

She relocated from Luverne for another teaching position.

“I left that position and went to Redwood Falls. I taught first grade three years there.”

Bonnie’s relocation to Redwood Falls led to another, big life change — meeting a young man who would become her spouse.

“Marvin Edward Davis was from Marshall. I was a friend of his sister and also a friend of his cousin. He came home from the service and all of us went roller skating at the Marshall Roller Rink.”

She also completed her coursework for her bachelor’s degree.

“One summer before I married, I went back to Mankato State Teacher’s College for the whole summer and I did my student teaching there. So, I had my bachelor’s degree!”

Bonnie relocated one more time, accepting a kindergarten teaching position at East Side Elementary School in Marshall. She held that position for three years, building her marriage relationship while continuing to teach. (My older sister, Debbie, had Mrs. Davis for kindergarten at East Side during this time.) During that time, Bonnie and Marvin began a family and she resigned her teaching position.

“We had our daughter, Genell, and then, three years later when she was about 3 years old, they came (to me) and needed teachers.There was a shortage, so they asked if I would come and teach kindergarten at West Side (Elementary School). I went to summer school to regain (licensure).”

Bonnie Davis worked as a classroom teacher for 28 years, most of those years in a kindergarten classroom. She found great satisfaction working with her young students.

“I really enjoyed the kids, playing with them and reading stories to them. They had not had as many experiences as children have now. They enjoyed the things we did. They were just so fun to play games with. I loved phy-ed time, of course. We’d go to the gym and run around. I can’t explain enough to you why I liked it so much. I just did like it! (Bonnie chuckled) I liked the kids!”

She recalled some of the special roles she played during the course of the school year.

“I liked to dress up. If it was Easter time, it was a bunny outfit. If it was Halloween, it was a pumpkin thing. It was fun. I had a real good gal, Helen Quist, with whom I taught and we’d team-teach. I do not play the piano, so we’d have the two classes together and she’d be playing piano while I’d be up front singing, probably off-key, (Bonnie chuckled) but having a great time. I had other teaching partners, too, who were very good. Mrs. Manke was a very good one.”

Mrs. Davis lost her Marvin some years ago and retired from teaching, in her words, “A long time ago.” But she still lights up when sharing her time with her young charges as a kindergarten teacher.

Thank you for all those years of helping young learners, Mrs. Davis!

©2026 William D. Palmer.