BONITA COVINGTON obituary

BUTTE - Bonita "Bonnie" Marie Covington, 77, died Monday, May 17, 2004, at a Butte nursing home following a 17-year battle with cancer.

Cremation has taken place. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Butte with the Rev. Esther Angel officiating.

Bonnie was born on May 3, 1927, at Iowa City, Iowa, to Dr. Louis R. and Florence Ann (Peeber) Kilzer. She graduated from Laramie High School in Wyoming and graduated from the University of Wyoming in 1947 with a bachelor's degree in secondary education. She was active in 23 extra-curricular activities in high school and was a member of Delta Delta Delta Sorority in college. She was excellent bridge player and a 57-year member of Chapter X of PEO Sisterhood.

After her husband, Lee Covington, graduated from college in 1948, the couple lived in Dallas, Texas, New Orleans, and Riverton and Buffalo, Wyo. In 1953, they would move with their family to Helena and various other Montana cities while working for the Montana Power Co.

Bonnie worked part time as a bookkeeper, in women's clothing and furniture sales departments, and was an accomplished poet.

The couple spent years traveling around the West Coast and Canada in their recreational vehicles. They enjoyed their 14 years wintering in Arizona and many visits to family in Cape Cod and Sparks, Nev.

She was past president of her Havre PEO chapter, two-time president of the Butte Republican Women's Club, worked as an election judge.

Bonnie was preceded in death by her parents; son and daughter-in-law, Scott Allen and Ila Gertrude Covington of Columbia Falls.

Survivors include her husband of 57 years, C. Lee Covington; sons, David (Barbara) Covington of Missoula, Robert (Mary) Covington of Anaconda, and Todd (Katherine) Covington of Springfield, Ore.; five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.