Bonita "Bonnie" Kay Beuggert
Our sweet Bonita (Bonnie) Kay Beuggert peacefully passed away on August 10, 2026 at 8:00AM at the age of 62. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and friend to many. She daily chose to delight in the Lord through prayer and service to others, regardless of her own personal circumstances. She was an example of grace and joy in the midst of trials and daily kept her eyes fixed on the kingdom of God.
Bonnie was born on April 12, 1964 to Clarence Miller Nissley and Anna Katherine Kreider in Martinsburg, West Virginia. Clarence and Anna moved to West Virginia from Pennsylvania for jobs as an X-Ray Tech and Nurse, respectively. Bonnie had a wonderful childhood with her sister Sheryl and brother Rodney in Martinsburg and spoke fondly about attending Rosemont Grace Brethren Church and Martinsburg Christian Academy.
As a high school student Bonnie went on Operation Barnabas in 1981 and found a love for ministry and serving others. She graduated high school in 1982 and traveled to Brazil that summer and felt the call to become a missionary. From there, she decided to attend Grace College and studied to become an elementary teacher. During summers in between, Bonnie served as a leader on Operation Barnabas for five years, and had some of her fondest memories there.
After graduating from Grace College in 1986, Bonnie taught in Florida for one year and then moved back to Martinsburg and taught for two years. She then attended West Virginia University from 1989-91 and got her masters as a reading specialist. Bonnie finally fulfilled her desire to be a missionary by moving to Manila in the Philippines and becoming a teacher at Faith Academy from 1991-93. She came back to raise support for a year and then traveled back to the Philippines in 1994.
It was then that Bonnie and Christian met at language school and were quickly inseparable. After a game of Rook and a trip to Manila Bay, they knew that they were in love. By the fall of 1995 they were engaged and were married at Rosemont on July 13, 1996. They then traveled back to the Philippines to minister and had three children, Kayla in 1998, Michael in 2000, and Philip in 2002. They lived and ministered in the Philippines until 2005 when they moved to Thailand for a year to help with tsunami relief.
From there they spent a year furlough in Switzerland and the United States and then officially moved to Bangkok, Thailand in 2007 to be missionaries there. Bonnie and Christian spent seven years in Thailand ministering while the children attended International Community School.
After much prayer and discussion, Bonnie and Christian decided to move to the United States in 2014 to care for Bonnie's parents who were aging and needed extra support. Christian became a pastor for Ghent Grace Brethren church- later Citylight Church- and Bonnie supported him wholeheartedly through the role of pastor's wife and homemaker.
It was in 2017 that the doctors discovered breast cancer and Bonnie began her battle with cancer by fighting it with a natural approach. It was for many years that she remained very healthy and did not start dealing with the effects of cancer until 2021, when she traveled to Mexico for alternative treatments.
Despite dealing with the effects of cancer, Bonnie continually served and ministered to her family, friends, and the church body. In the midst of her struggles she selflessly cared for those around her and never allowed her cancer diagnosis to become her identity. During this time of suffering she welcomed her two grandchildren into the world and loved being a Lolli to them.
It was in the last 6 months that Bonnie began to feel the extreme pains of cancer and feel the call of heaven, and was finally called home by Jesus. We will miss her tremendously but are thankful for a full life well lived and the assurance that she heard the words, "Well done, good and faithful servant."
Bonita Kay Beuggert is survived by her husband, Christian Beuggert and children Kayla & Benjamin Rodkey with Lukas and Susanna, Michael Beuggert, and Philip Beuggert. Her sister Sheryl & Marc Knoedler, and brother Rodney & Lisa Nissley.
A celebration of life for Bonnie's incredible story will be held on Saturday, August 29 9:00am at Lakeside Baptist Church (447 Dalewood Ave, Salem, VA 24153).
