A Memory or Two by Rhoda B. Rogers.
"The sister we affectionabely call Bonnie was born Vounes Amelia Black. She was the 9th child and the sixth girl born to David Patten and Elzada Kartchner Black, on "flag day", the 14th of June 1921, in Blanding, Utah. She was born in what we call the Lake house. This was a huge, fun house on the east end of town that had a big porch around it, a balcony upstairs, and enough room to start a modest hotel.

She was a darling, beautiful baby with big black eyes and how I loved her! I asked Mama if I could have her and Mama was wise enough to say ,"Yes". I tended her and lugged her around and tried to take care of her because she was "my baby".

In those days we didn't have bottles and nipples and formulas to take care of undernourished babies, so when Bonnie began to fret and lose weight because Mama wasn't able to nurse her enough, Mama went to see Martha Carroll, who had a baby that same age. Martha agreed to nurse Bonnie and the first time we took her there, Martha wept as that baby laid her tiny, little, bird claw hand across her breast and began to nurse like a starving little sparrow. I don't think it would be putting it too strong to say that Martha saved her life.

Alvin was so disappointed because she was a girl that he wouldn't go in to see her for two days. When he did she put her little hand around his finger and she completely captured his heart.

When she was about two we moved to a big house in the very middle of town. It had a big porch around it and was a fun house to grow up in. Here, Bonnie had a good childhood, and a few good school years, with many dear friends. She dearly loved her father and followed him around constantly. She always said her name was "Boy Dave."

She contracted St. Vitus dance and had a few ailing years when she had to be cared for. In the spring mama and daddy took her to the road camp out by the Bears Ears and gave her constant care and carried her wherever she had to go. Later, that fall, when she was no better mama gathered up some camping equipment and with the help of Asa Laws took her up to the Laws' Ranch where she could have sunshine, fresh air, watercress, and mama's undivided attention. She recovered but with a heart problem, but which has not kept her from a productive, good life.

In February of 1951 Bonnie had a most heart breaking experience. It has been something so terrible that I haven't been able to talk about it from that day until now, but maybe I can write about it.

The day started out innocent enough. Bonnie Karen and Linda were sitting on the couch together making Valentines. Dennis was outside playing and Kirk was in his baby bed asleep. Woodrow had been working on a little scale model railroad engine that was a work of art and perfection, and a real monument to his patience. He needed some white gas to wash parts in and Bonnie had taken a glass jug to the service station and had it filled with gas.

It was cold outside and when she sat the bottle down inside, it cracked and the gas began to leak out. Bonnie turned to get a mop to wipe it up, but the fumes went straight to the pilot light in the wall heater and a wall of flames burst across the room. Woodrow and the girls were behind the flamesl. He screamed for everybody to get out and grabbed for the girls. He caught Linda's hand and took her through the flames and down the stairs. Bonnie ran to get Kirk and as she came out of the bedroom another blast knocked her and the baby down the stairs. Karen was unable to get out. When Tony and I arrived Bonnie was out under the window, a burned black mess, with her arms out stretched towards the window crying "Karen, Karen." The ambulance finally got there and took the family away.

It was an intense flash fire that melted the chrome on the fridge and cupboards and made it impossible for the firemen to enter the house immediately. As soon as they could get in they found little Karen still sitting on the couch. The only place that wasn't burned was two little spots on her buttocks. She was rushed to the hospital and bandaged from head to toe. She died before the night was through. We followed the ambulance to the hospital and the next time I saw Bonnie she was lying on her stomach and she was swathed like a mummy from the waist up.

Woodrow and Linda were treated and released to their private doctor. Kirk was released from the hospital several days later. Bonnie was hospitalized for nearly two months, and I was her constant companion. She suffered untold agony, but she suffered bravely and well. Even after she got out of the hospital the scars gave her agony by itching and drawing. Bonnie has endured many things and came through it all still pleasant and smiling. There isn't a prejudiced bone in her body. She is good to everyone."

(Talk given by her sister at her funeral)