Bonnie Jean Chytka

Bonnie Jean Chytka passed away on September 26, 2026, in Salem, Oregon. She was 94 years old.

Bonnie was born on August 6, 1932, in Lake Andes, South Dakota, to Luther James and Violet (Sell) Miley. One of seven children, she grew up alongside her siblings, Zola, Verse, Bud, Margie, Bill, and Gracie. She attended a one-room schoolhouse on the hill in Lake Andes, where children of all grade levels learned together under one roof.

Bonnie met the love of her life, Lawrence Chytka, following a memorable encounter involving Lawrence taking a fall while roller skating. They laughed together, and, as Bonnie would later say, “the rest was history.” The two were married on August 20, 1948, beginning a life together filled with family, hard work, adventure, and plenty of laughter.

In 1956, Bonnie and Lawrence moved their family from South Dakota to Oregon. In 1959, they purchased a farm on McCully Mountain in Lyons, Oregon. It became the place where they raised their family, along with cows and chickens, and enjoyed the outdoor life Bonnie loved so much.

Bonnie was never afraid of hard work. In addition to raising her family and running the household, she worked outside the home at the Stayton Cannery, Marion Estates, and Mari-Linn School, where she worked as a custodian. She was also an elder at the Mill City Eagles Club and helped organize many events over the years.

Bonnie loved the outdoors and especially enjoyed hunting elk and deer. At home, she made homemade red wine and filled the kitchen with homemade breads and cookies. Country music played from her cassette tapes, and she especially enjoyed the country gospel group Sweet Water. She and Lawrence loved square dancing, beginning in South Dakota and continuing after their move to Oregon.

Bonnie was feisty and stubborn, and she told it like it was. There was little doubt that Bonnie ran her home. But behind that strong personality was an extraordinarily generous spirit. She was always ready to help someone in need. Her door was open, and there was always a place to sleep for anyone who needed one.

Her home was a gathering place for family and friends. Bonnie hosted large Fourth of July parties and Thanksgiving celebrations where there was always room for one more person at the table. Those gatherings, filled with food, family, stories, and laughter, became treasured memories for generations of her family.

Bonnie was preceded in death by her parents, Luther James and Violet Miley; her beloved husband, Lawrence; her son, Dan; and son in law, Kenny Schmidt and all of her siblings.

She is survived by her children, Valerie “Val” Schmidt, Richard “Rick” Chytka (Amber), Timothy “Tim” Chytka (Cyndi), and Mary McTavish (Terry); nine grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren.

A Celebration of Life for Bonnie will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 7, 2026, at Stayton Christian Church, 189 E. Washington St., Stayton, Oregon.