Bonita Skidmore was nurtured in her developing years by the wonderful communities of Rexburg, Idaho, and Price and Logan, Utah. She has a deep love for international students as her parents did. She greatly appreciated Utah State University as she obtained her degree in elementary education and minoring in music. She also participated in student government and many singing groups, including two years with Delta Phi Chorus. She plays the piano and organ and enjoys writing music. She finds great joy in hearing her work performed by various groups.
After teaching a year in Kearns, Utah, she and her husband, Bill, dated and married before their honeymoon of two years in Frankfurt, Germany, while she taught and thoroughly enjoyed her little kindergarten class.
Their first daughter, blonde-headed Sherena, was born in Wiesbaden, Germany. Eventually, they moved and reared their eight children in Peoria, Arizona. As a full-time mother, she made time to always be involved with developing children’s musical abilities in youth choirs and teaching private piano lessons. As her children grew and developed their own talents, she was able to turn her home into a community learning center as her children taught their own musical workshops, sports camps and developed small businesses. She loves helping others and helped establish four young mothers’ groups with American mothers. She was always excited for the adventure of every church calling she received.
After her husband’s retirement, they were employed by Holiday Retirement as live-in managers. They then served a full-time mission in Nauvoo and Carthage. They are delighted to be in Laie, Hawaii. Their home is in Sun City West, Arizona, near most of their children and their families.