Bonnie was born in 1910 in Chicago and grew up in Oak Park. Her family was Catholic. She was the youngest of three children. She met Chuck at the University of Illinois in 1928. Her father lost his job at Monarch Electric in 1931. Bonnie worked at the Oak Park Library earning $100 a month, which she turned over to her parents. Her mother handled the money and the budgeting. After her father's dismisal at Monarch Electric, both her parents were dependent on her wages. The details of this story were gathered through oral interviews with Bonnie and Chuck.