Bennett, endless volunteer, dies at 62

A pall descended over Havre this weekend as word got out that Bonnie Bennett, 62, who epitomized Havre volunteerism, had died.

"I feel God was good to me in letting Bonnie come into my life," said Trina Crawford, executive director of the Havre Salvation Army Service Center.

Bonnie worked year-round as a volunteer at the Salvation Army and other volunteer agencies around Havre, but she was best known for ringing the bell at Gary & Leo's Fresh Foods during the Christmas season.

The Salvation Army was one of a dozen community groups ranging from Havre Pride to Relay for Life that she volunteered for.

Tom Farnham, manager of the Havre Eagles Club, said Bonnie showed up to volunteer for a dinner Thursday night, just as she has for decades.

She complained of not feeling well. Farnham figured she was coming down with a cold, so he had her wash dishes instead of serving food.

At 2 p.m. Friday. Bonnie didn't show up at the Eagles Club as she had promised. People immediately suspected something was wrong. By 5 p.m., people went to her apartment and found her dead, he said.

"She was like clockwork," Farnham said. "Every day she would stop by and ask if there was something she could do to help."

Bonnie had developmental disabilities and was unable to work a full-time job.

But for at least 30 years, she was a full-time volunteer working for the American Legion Auxiliary, the American Cancer Society, the Boy Scouts, the Girl Scouts, the Salvation Army, the Havre Area Chamber of Commerce, 4-H and numerous other civic organizations.

Even without a job, people wondered how she managed to fit in all her volunteer responsibilities.

"She's been my partner since the beginning of Havre Pride," said Kim Cripps, the chair of the annual Havre cleanup day. "She would never miss Havre Pride."

A week ago Saturday, she was on hand to help organize the clean-up effort, Cripps recalled.

Cripps took pictures of Bonnie at the sign-in desk at Havre Pride, the last pictures, she suspects, ever taken of Bonnie.

Bonnie collected T-shirts, and one of the volunteers had a Montana State University-Northern T-shirt that Bonnie especially admired.

After discussing it with the Acting Northern Chancellor Greg Kegel, the student gave her a T-shirt.

She was always a big Northern supporter, Cripps said.

Bonnie liked to keep a memento of every event she went to - and there were lots of events, she said.

"Whoever cleans out her apartment will find a great deal of Havre history," she said.

Holland & Bonine Funeral Home is handling arrangements, but details of services are not available.

Farnham said the Eagles will hold a community lunch following services.