Lewis "Ted" Theodore Bonner Jr.

Funeral Services for Ted Bonner Are Held Thurs.

Thon Book 1

Funeral services were held Thursday at 2:00 p.m. from Peet Chapel for Ted Bonner, 20, who was asphyxiated near Newcastle December 29. The Rev. R. H. Hunt of Newcastle officiated. Burial was in the Lusk Cemetery.

Mrs. Lorraine Scott and Mrs. Betty Skinner of Newcastle sang "Beautiful Garden of Prayer" and "Someday We'll Understand." Mrs. J. P. Watson was organist.

Pallbearers were Emerson Bonner, Butch Bonner, John Sturman, Steve Christian, Tom Melugin and Ron Jennewein.

Lewis Theodore Bonner was born July 30, 1938 to Lewis T. and Eugenia Bonner of Lusk. He was educated in the Lusk Schools graduating from Niobrara County High School in 1956 as the high ranking boy of his class.

He attended the University of Wyoming a short time, and about a year ago took employment with the Plains Pipe Line Co. at Newcastle making his home with an uncle Harry Bonner. He had just taken the assignment of riding the pipe line, this being the first time out, when he met his death in the cab of the pickup truck he was using. He had planned to attend forestry school at the University of Montana next year.

Ted was baptized into the membership of the First Baptist Church of Lusk May 16, 1948. He was active in all phases of the Church and was especially popular with the little children. At Newcastle he was associated with the First Baptist Church there.

He was a member of the Lusk National Guard transferring his membership to Newcastle. He loved the outdoors and spent many hours hiking and hunting. In August, 1957 he was seriously injured when he fell from a cliff near Glendo.

Survivors include his father and one sister, Nondace Motsenbocker of Norman, Okla., His maternal grandmother; Mrs. Alice Moore, Washington, Okla. and his paternal grandmother, Mrs. Amelia Bonner, Cannon City, Colo.. Numerous other relatives also survive. His mother died July 1954.

The Lusk Herald
January 1, 1958
Ted Bonner Asphyxiated Near Newcastle Monday

Ted Bonner, 20-year-old son of L.T. (Cy) Bonner of Lusk, was asphyxiated some time between midnight and 4:00 a.m. Monday in a parked Plains Pipeline pickup in the Skull Creek oil field. The field is about six miles southwest of Newcastle.

Funeral services will be held Thursday at 2:00 p.m. from the Peet Chapel in Lusk.

Mr. Bonner was found by a fellow worker who was to relieve him at 4:00 a.m. Evidently Bonner had stopped to eat lunch he had with him about midnight and left the pickup and heater running. Fumes from the pickup's exhaust are thought to have crept into the pickup from the motor and perhaps a nearby engine which was also operating.

Mr. Bonner had reported in at 10:00 p.m. by radio. When found he was in an upright position.

The cause of death was determined at an autopsy performed in Cheyenne Monday.

The date December 28, 1958 was used in this database, as this is the date of record in the cemetery, and is the date used on the gravestone.

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