Bonnie "Bj" Herrick

B onnie J eanne "BJ" H errick, 91, of North Platte, peacefully passed away surrounded by her family at Great Plains Health on June 15, 2025.

BJ was born Jan. 3, 1934, in rural Frontier County to Carl and Aurie Zysset. She and her seven siblings grew up on a farm where they shared many adventures. She attended a rural school in Farnam and then finished her younger years at Hilltop Grade School. Later, after graduating from University of Nebraska School of Agriculture High School at Curtis, BJ began teaching at a country school north of Bartley.

She left teaching to marry Lynn Herrick on April 13, 1952. They later divorced on June 17, 1962.

BJ had five children that she loved dearly. She raised them in Aurora, Colo., while working at Union Supply where she had many talents, including using shorthand – a foreign concept to many in this day and age. She then moved to North Platte, where she held many roles, including a ticket agent at the Greyhound bus depot, clerical work at Lutheran Family Services and, eventually, loved greeting guests at the Cody Park train station. She loved her work and continued until she was 86 (yes, 86!). Her most cherished role was Mother, Grandmother/Grandi, and Great-Grandmother.

BJ loved her family, her crossword puzzles and the color pink. She was stubborn until the end, with her own sense of humor and love for giving people a hard time. A fun-loving soul, she once even owned an orange 1969 Plymouth Road Runner that brought as many thrills to her kids as it did to her. She had a kind, thoughtful and sweet way about her – always thinking of others – and made a mean cinnamon roll. With her and her Mother's love of music, she instilled that appreciation of music into many of her children and grandchildren, playing the guitar and piano, and was always ready for a sing-along for anyone that wanted to participate.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Carl and Aurie Zysset; brothers, Mervin, Paul, and Kenny Zysset; sisters, Evelyn Wolf, Ruth Crum and Janice Quinn; and son, Kirby Herrick.

BJ is survived by her children, Kim (Kendy) Herrick, Tandi (Rob) Ashburn and Tawni Stewart, all of North Platte and Rocky (Tamie) Herrick of St. Johns, Ariz.; sister, Lorene Raburn of Cambridge; grandchildren, Brandy (Greg) Eklund, Tanner Herrick, Colby (Ashley) Herrick, Amber Knox, Kacee (Brent) Moore, Autumn Manweiler, Austin (Jenny) Avery, Tassi (Justin) Keith, Drew (Lindsey) Herrick, Pierce Stewart, and Bonnie Bradford; great grandchildren, Anne Schlaefli, Maryssa Schlaefli, Sage Eklund, Maddie Herrick, Mack Herrick, Cal Herrick, Caleb Knox, Jacob Knox, Brooklyn Knox, Tanya Shopbell, Kenzie Moore, Cameron Moore, Connor Moore, Ronan Moore, Rylan Manweiler, Ryker Manweiler, Lilly Avery, Silas Avery, Coen Keith, Samuel Herrick, Olivia Herrick, Ivy Herrick, Jackson Herrick, Shepherd Herrick and Paisley Stewart; and other family.

Memorial service is 10 a.m., Saturday, June 21, at Church of Christ (700 South Willow Street) with a reception following. Burial will be at 2 p.m. in the Farnam Cemetery. In celebration of BJ's life and her favorite color, the family invites anyone attending to wear pink if they're so inclined.

Online condolences may be shared at odeanchapel.com.  Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore is in charge of arrangements.