Obituary - Ken Bondy

Long-time Fort Peck resident Ken Bondy died unexpectedly in Butte, MT, on March 8th while recovering from a recent hospital stay.

He was born May 8th, 1942, to Orville and Thelma Bondy in Glasgow, Montana, who remained in Fort Peck after working on the construction of the Fort Peck Dam. After graduating from Nashua High School in 1959, Ken attended Rocky Mountain College on a baseball scholarship. In 1962, Ken was named the NAIA District V most valuable player. His 1964 RMC Bears team fell one run short of the NAIA world series and was recently inducted into the Rocky Mountain College Hall of Fame.

After graduating from Rocky Mountain College in 1964 with a degree in education, he married Patricia Marilyn Vernon. The couple moved to Terry, MT, where he taught junior high science. In 1967, Bondy returned home to Fort Peck, where he taught junior high science, history and physical education until the school closed in 1985. Ken then served as the elementary school principal in Frazer, MT, until 1993 when he became the school's superintendent. He proudly completed his master's degree in education from Montana State University in 1988 (Go Cats!). From 1996 to 2000, he served as the superintendent of Turner schools and completed his career in 2001 as the dean of students for Eagle Butte Schools in Eagle Butte, South Dakota.

As an educator, Ken was known for his sense of humor and willingness to give a second chance to those who needed it most. He will be remembered for his sensitivity to others and his generosity to family and friends. Ken loved hunting deer on the Nickels ranch, and looking for ducks, sauger and buffalo skulls on the Missouri River. He instilled the love for Kings Hill, MT, into his family through many fishing and camping trips, a special place where he ran a summer church camp as a young man. Most of all he loved watching his grand kids grow up ... and bear stories. He loved telling bear stories.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his sisters, Francis "Fritzie" and Eleanor, and beloved son-in-law Kris Bakke.

Bondy is survived by his former wife, Patricia, children, Danelle (Shane Borlaug) Bakke and of Havre, MT, Beth (John Mikkelson) Bondy of Corvalis, MT, and Jeff and Shannon Bondy of Belgrade, MT. Survivors also include 10 grandchildren, Devan (Natalie) Bessette, Breanna (Zach) Snider, Noah Bondy, Kelsey (Donny) Bakke, Michael Bakke, Ryan (Emmerson) Bakke, and Payton Bondy; three great-grandchildren, Jordan Bessette, Jackson Bessette, and Haven Snide; his sister, Deanna (John) Novotny; brother, Dwayne Bondy; brother-in-law Buster Johnson, and many beloved nieces and nephews.

A celebration of Ken's life will be held in Fort Peck, MT, at the Kiwanis Campground Saturday, July 31st, at 4 p.m. with a barbecue and beverages to follow. Please bring a lawn chair if you have one.

A graveside service will be held Sunday, August 1st, at 10:30 a.m. at the town of Fort Peck cemetery.