Ted Bonnell

Devoted Husband and Father; Distinguished Banker and Rancher

Ted Bonnell, age 92 and a native of New Mexico, joined his Lord and Savior in a place where all is perfect, on Saturday, March 6, 2021. 

He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 67 years, Mary Glynda Shook Bonnell; his father and mother, Kiel Allen Bonnell and Fay Champion Bonnell; his daughter, Robin Dell and son Kiel Allen Bonnell.

He is survived by his daughter Jill and her husband John Petty, Fay Luan and husband Dan Salzwedel; grandchildren, Chad Petty and Robin Glynda Petty, Lia Fay and her husband Shane Armstrong, Amy Lu and her husband Rob Rienert, Kari Dell Ingalls, Carey Danielle and her husband Tim DeBeaux, Todd and his wife Alice Salzwedel; great grandchildren, Omni Armstrong, Cari Fay, Noah, Nate, and Luke Rienert, Kai Zale Ingalls, Braeden and Paege Salzwedel, Dylan, Calvin, and Seth DeBeaux. 

Thirkiel (Ted) Bonnell was born on May 20, 1928 in Alamogordo, NM and grew up in Tularosa, NM.  He attended school in Tularosa, then the New Mexico Military Institute and later at New Mexico A&M University.  After his formal education, he moved to Ruidoso, NM with his family, where he met the love of his life, Mary Glynda Shook, whom he married on September 11, 1949.  In 1950, they relocated to Alamogordo, NM, where he entered the banking industry.  He had an illustrious career, as he served as president and founder of Bank Securities Inc., New Mexico's first state bank holding company. Innovative as he was, BSI was at the forefront of branch banking and was at its peak, with 54 locations, in New Mexico. He later sold control of BSI to Robert O. Anderson in 1980, which eventually became what is now known as Wells Fargo in NM.

Ted then turned to another passion in his life, ranching.  He and Glynda developed a big ranch, High Nogal, within the Sacramento Mountains.  This became the base for a number of land holdings that comprised this operation.  Mr. Bonnell was also a partner in the Cloud Country development, the prominent Cloudcroft Lodge with accompanying golf course, and Ski Cloudcroft Resort. Among the many boards, committees, community and state endeavors he was involved with, he served on the board of the Texas New Mexico Power Co., was treasurer of Grace United Methodist Church in Alamogordo, where he and his family were longtime members, served with distinction as president of the New Mexico Bankers Association, the New Mexico Development Commission, New Mexico Board of Construction, was an active Rotarian and served as the District Governor of Rotary International. In addition, he was on the Board of Directors of Santa Maria El Mirador, and served with pride as chairman of the New Mexico Boys and Girls Ranches Board for many years.

Mr. Bonnell also had a passion for NM history and geography. He was considered by many as one of the foremost authorities of NM history and was a guest speaker in this area on numerous occasions.  Notably, Ted was a member of and attended, as he was able, Mountainside Methodist Church in Cedar Crest, NM.

Further, the family wishes to acknowledge and express their appreciation to Adam and Melissa Dooley, as well as the staff of Grace Adult Homecare for their loving care and kindness given to Ted through the last two years of his journey in life.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations in their memory (Ted and Glynda Bonnell), be made to the Kiel Bonnell Educational Scholarship Fund, housed and administered through Grace United Methodist Church, 1206 Greenwood Ln., Alamogordo, NM 88310.

A private, family graveside service will be determined at a later date.

The family has entrusted the care of their loved one to Scenic Chapel in Alamogordo, NM. 

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