Bergstrom was the daughter of Ellis and Hilma, Swedish immigrants who arrived in the USA in 1906. Ellis worked as a pattern maker for a printing firm. She also had a younger brother, Bertil (born August 1917). By 1928 the family were prosperous enough to afford a visit to Sweden, arriving back in the USA 17 September 1928 on the ship Drottningholm, from the port of Gothenburg.

She was one of the best and brightest at Lindblom High School in Chicago - the June 1932 yearbook listing her as Vice-President of 4A and 3B classes, Girls Council, Honor Society, Scholarship of the "L" Club, Editor of the "Steam Whistle", and Treasurer of the Junior Girls Club. She is also listed as 'Radio Artist' next to her photograph - many of the other students have professions listed, from private secretary to estimator to aviatrix, and I'm unsure as to whether this was the career path they were studying to attain, or work they had already secured.

The daughter of Capitol head arranger Roy Rodocker, Joyce Rodocker, was also in the same year as Bergstrom, and belonged to the same Junior Girls Club, so she may have been introduced to the business through Joyce. Her first known roll was issued as Supertone #4720, Save The Last Dance For Me. This piece was composed by Walter Hirsch and Frank Magine and was copyrighted in October 1931. From then on she is one of the mainstays of the Supertone catalogue, along with other artists John Honnert, Pearl White and Bernie Schaik (who were also young, being born in 1908, 1910, and 1914 respectively!). Her final known roll was issued as Supertone #4926 (You've Got Everything) - this Kahn and Donaldson foxtrot was copyrighted September 1933. This was also the third to last Supertone roll issued by the Columbia/Capitol concern before QRS/Imperial took over.

Following the demise of her roll-making career, Bonnie successfully continued her musical life. The Sheboygan Press of August 5, 1940 carried an article about Bonnie in their radio section, mentioning that the "talented and versatile young lady, who has been thrilling ever so many radio fans for the past several months with her musical offerings with the 'Diplomettes of Rhythm" featured twice daily from the Hotel Foeste to WHBL", was also the president of the official Barbara Stanwyck Fan Club in addition to her busy schedule "being constantly on tour or featured entertainer at spots all over the United States. Bonnie is most modest about it all, just as she is abuot her great talent in music. As most folks round these parts have learned, Bonnie plays the piano and piano accordion and sings equally well."

A Billboard Magazine article of 10 July 1943 reports on a performance by Alice Rawleigh And Her Diplomettes Of Rhythm in San Diego, and mentions "Bonnie Bergstrom, another looker, is a triple-threat gal, handling piano, accordion and doing much of the arranging". The article also mentions her as being one of the vocalists for the group, both in trio singing and as a "torchy soloist".

The probability of this Bonnie Bergstrom being the same as the Chicago Bergstrom is increased by the fact a Hilma O. Bergstrom, born 3 February 1884, is recorded as dying in California (Los Angeles) on 15 August 1966 and Ellis Bergstrom, born 9 October 1886, died in Los Angeles on 26 August 1968. These match perfectly the details of her parents, so it's likely the entire family had relocated west.

Bonnie may have married a Frank Milello in August 1948 in Chicago, but I have been unable to confirm this is the same person as our Bonnie. At some point, she definitely married Robert Frederick Hickman (1920-1967), who served as a Sergeant in the US Marine Corps during the war.

A Social Security Death Index that seems to match lists a Bonnie B. Hickman, nee Bergstrom as dying in San Diego on 22 April 1983. The birth date of 4 November 1915 does match that implied in the 
1920 census (Bonnie is listed as 4 years 1 month old, and the census was taken 2nd January 1920).

This Bonnie Hickman is buried in Fort Rosecrans National Cemetary in San Diego, Plot Q1416, with her husband.