It's sad to imagine Havre without Bonnie

The heart of Havre died last week.

Bonnie Bennett was a shining example of what makes Havre so special.

She had a heart of gold and was a first-class character to boot.

There was hardly a special event in the city that Bonnie was not at — usually volunteering in some way.

She served meals at the Eagles Club, worked with the American Legion Auxiliary and performed all kinds of tasks for the American Cancer Society.

She was a waitress and bus girl at the Vets' Club and was devastated when it closed.

She was proud to boast that she never missed a Havre Pride event in its 20-plus-year history.

Bonnie was active in the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts.

During Christmas season, she was a fixture at Gary & Leo’s Fresh Foods, ringing the bell for the Salvation Army.

During the year, she was a regular at Salvation Army headquarters lending a hand and raising the spirits of other volunteers.

The highlight of her year was when she took part in the Relay for Life walkathon for the American Cancer Society. She spent months before the walk convincing people to pledge for her. It usually didn’t take much convincing, but she liked to make her pitch, even after you agreed to donate.

I’d usually cover the Relay, and she’d tell me about the friends and relatives who had died of cancer. She dedicated her effort to them. And she’d remind me that she was the top fundraiser if I wanted to put that in the paper.

The proper phrase of the day is that Bonnie was developmentally disabled, but she eskewed the phrase.

“I’m mentally retarded,” she would say, with a sense of pride.

She lived alone in her apartment since her parents died more than 30 years ago.

She didn’t drive, and it was a common sight to see her walking along the streets of Havre, winter and summer, often with her walking sticks. If she needed to, she would trek to the Holiday Village Mall for a meeting or to take part in some volunteer activity.

“Bonnie, give us a call and we can give you a ride,” people would say.

“I don’t want to impose,” she would said. “People just don’t have time. People are so busy these days.”

People over the years suggested that Bonnie move into a group home where there would be someone to help her out.

When pigs fly.

She loved her life the way it was.

“I love Havre,” she said when I asked her why she spent so much time volunteering. “It’s my hometown. It’s the only place I’ve ever lived.”

And the only place she ever wanted to live.

The city she took care of took care of her as well.

A couple of years ago, Mayor Tim Solomon gave her an award at a City Council meeting for her years of service.

Bonnie was proud of the award and made us promise to do a story about it.

But as soon as the mayor gave her the plaque, she accepted it and headed for the door, turning down the accolades.

“I have a Girl Scout meeting to go to,” she said. “I can’t be late.”

The Havre Area Chamber of Commerce, the Salvation Army and United Way of Hill County all have given Bonnie awards.

Bonnie had to scrimp on the minimal disability payments she received, and she didn’t mind telling anyone.

But one thing she tried to treat herself to was a Saturday morning breakfast at PJ’s in downtown Havre, where I’m also a Saturday morning regular.

It would always be great hearing the minute details of her week. When she was done with me, she would go off and tell others, whether she knew them or not. Everyone enjoyed hearing from her.

Bonnie was the conscience of the community and an inspiration to all.

When my car was on the fritz, I’d bellyache about how awful it was I had to walk four blocks home from work. Then I’d run into Bonnie who walked her diabetic-ravaged body on ice-covered sidewalks to help serve the needy at the Salvation Army.

Talk about learning a lesson.

Bonnie was always there to help out a neighbor and cheer up anyone she ran into.

She’d been doing that forever, and it seemed like she would be doing that forever.

Not so, unfortunately, not so.

(John Kelleher is managing editor of the Havre Daily News. He can be reached at [email protected], 406-265-6795, ext. 17, and 406-390-0798.)