- Date Of Birth: March 17, 1941
- Date Of Death: April 8, 2010
- State: Montana
Our mother, grandmother, sister, friend, Bonnie Ruth Brown Wallem, passed away from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease on Thursday April 8, 2010. She was born to Esther (Svennungsen) and Don L. Brown in Fort Benton, Montana on March 17, 1941.
Bonnie was baptized by her maternal grandfather, Rev. David Svennungsen, at Christ Lutheran Church, Big Sandy, MT.
In life Bonnie was involved in serving many facets of Montana State government. She served as the first woman Sargeant-at-Arms for the Montana House of Representatives; first woman Secretary of the Montana Senate; and served as an employee in the Office of the Secretary of State.
Bonnie was a staunch advocate and visionary for criminal justice reform and provided her knowledge to the Youth Justice Council from 2005 – 2007; Public Safety Officer Standards and Training Council 2007 – present; and the Montana Board of Crime Control 2005 – present.
Bonnie was passionate about making Kalispell a safe place for all citizens, and was a strong supporter of all law enforcement.
She and then Chief of Police, Frank Garner, started the first VIPS program in the KPD. Bonnie helped hire and train the first 7 VIPS for the KPD. This program has helped save over 3,900 personnel hours and has helped make the streets of Kalispell safer by having officers on the streets.
Bonnie was also very active in the Police Advisory Council (PAC). Bonnie helped the PAC organize a town hall meeting on the dangers of Meth– attended by over 500 Flathead County citizens–that raised awareness of the Meth problem in Flathead County. Her energy, especially regarding criminal justice will be missed by all.
Bonnie is healthy and happy now in the arms of her loved ones who passed before her. The family would like to thank Home Options for their loving care of Bonnie.
She was preceded in death by her two infant children, Celeste and Luther Wallem and mother and father, Esther D. and Don L. Brown.
Bonnie is survived by her husband, Jerry R. Wallem; daughter, Leslie Jo Wallem; grand-daughter, Victoria Esther; grand-son, Alexander Gerald (Kalispell); brother, Scott Brown (Nedra) of Helena; sisters, Marsha Paulson (Daryl) and Judy McKenna (Jim) of Bozeman.
