Byron W. Bonham, 84, was welcomed by God on Saturday, March 5, 2016. Cremation has preceded the services to celebrate his life. Celebrations of life and family services will be held in Clearwater, Kansas and on Monkey Island, Oklahoma, dates and times to be announced. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to: Lake Center Baptist Church, 29020 South Highway 125, Monkey Island, Oklahoma 74331. Byron was born August 20, 1931 to Floyd and Edith Faye Bonham in Protection, Kansas. Byron's father worked in road construction, so the family lived in various parts of Western and Central Kansas and Northern Oklahoma. As a young boy, Byron worked on a farm in Protection, Kansas. He also worked as a soda jerk in a drug store in Wichita, Kansas. He attended high school in Clearwater, Kansas where he was a member of the state championship basketball team in 1949. On December 3, 1950 he married Norma J. Maechtlen in the United Methodist Church in Clearwater, Kansas. In the following years they were blessed with three wonderful children, Diana, Wanda and Mark. They later moved from the Clearwater, Kansas area to Winfield, Kansas. While living in Winfield he worked as a salesman for the Southwest Paper Company, renovated homes for rental property, was active in 4H, the Masonic Lodge and coached youth baseball. In 1982 they moved to Oklahoma on Grand Lake, where he was a groundskeeper at Mainstay and Heritage Point, both on Monkey Island. He loved boating, fishing, hunting, gardening, bowling, travel and playing cards. Byron was preceded in death by his wife of 60 years, Norma, his father, Floyd R. "Bud" Bonham, his mother, Edith Faye Bonham; his son, Mark Bonham, his sister, Loween Dunn and his sister, Alice Faye Gleeson. Byron is survived by his two daughters, Diana R. Karasek of Topeka, Kansas, Wanda J. Satterfield and her husband Marty of Winfield, Kansas; sisters in law, Marilyn Maechtlen and Vivian Rink; brothers in law, Kenneth Maechtlen and Wayne Dunn; grandchildren, Melissa Kirkwood, Jamie Karasek, Natalie Busby, Gabrial Satterfield, Tyson Satterfield, Jeanne Satterfield; great grandchildren, Nathan Kirkwood, Ethan Kirkwood, Logan Satterfield, Madison Busby, Connor Holstin, Maria Oprea, Eliza Oprea, Tania Oprea and Ezra Satterfield; numerous nieces, nephews and wonderful friends. Arrangements are with Benton County Memorial Park Funeral Home of Rogers, Arkansas.

Service information has not yet been posted.