Beverly Grayce Bonamie
The Lord opened His arms and brought Beverly Grayce Bonamie, of Polson, MT, to Heaven on Monday, January 4, 2010. Family and friends surrounded her at home when she lost her courageous 6-year battle with breast cancer. Bev was 73.
She was born on Sept. 1, 1936 in Petrel, ND to Edward and Grayce Christman. Bev attended high school in Lemmon, SD and received her teaching certification at Huron College in 1956. She then went on to complete a degree in teaching at the University of Montana in 1972. Bev married Bernard Bonamie on Sept. 1, 1957, and they shared 52 years together.
Bev was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend. Beverly lived her life for others through her teaching, her friendship and her kindness to everyone she met. Thirty years of her life was spent teaching and eighteen of those years as a kindergarten teacher in Polson. She retired in 1993.
Bev was a big University of Montana Grizzly fan. She loved going to the Griz football games and watching the Lady Griz. She was also a member of Delta Kappa Gamma.
She was preceded in death by her brother Keith Christman and her parents Edward and Grace Christman.
Her husband, Bernard of Polson, their daughters, Kristy Johnson and her husband Paul of Seattle, WA and Lori Chase and her husband Richard of Helena, MT, survive her. She is also survived by four grandsons; Tory Schuessler of Seattle, Tyler Chase of Bozeman, MT, Trever Chase of Baltimore, MD, and Ryan Johnson of Seattle, two granddaughters; Annie Chase of Helena, MT & Brittney Johnson of Seattle, a brother Ron Christman and his wife Carol of Kalispell, MT and two very dear friends Lyle & Hazel Rowan of Wessington, SD.
A graveside memorial service will be held in Wessington, SD at a later date. The family suggests memorials be made to Cheerful Hearts or Relay For Life. Messages of condolence may be sent to the family online at www.groganfuneralhome.com. The staff at Grogan Funeral Home and Crematory, Polson, MT considers it a privilege to care for Mrs. Bonamie’s family.
I was very saddened to see that Mrs. Bonamie has passed away. She was my first grade teacher in Ulm, MT in 1971. To this day, she remains my favorite teacher. She was so kind and loving. Mrs. Bonamie set me up for years of loving school. We, in Ulm, suffered a loss when you moved to Polson. Our family made a point of stopping at the Icecream shop when we would go there. Thank you for sharing her with me. Penny L. Palm, 3820 Snowdrift Lane, Missoula, MT 59808
Bernard: Was so sorry to hear of Bev’s passing. My deepest synpathy to you and family.
So sorry for your loss. She was a lovely lady.
Lorine Davis Wessington sd
Although I haven’t known Bev for but 10-15 years I am very glad to have enjoyed Lady Griz BB and Griz Football with Bev and Bernie. Bev was a great friend and thru her I met Ron and Carol. I will miss her much as I’m sure you all will. My prayers and thought are will you.
GOD bless you all as you learn to live without Bev’s earthly presence!! Bev was a true example of love, patience and strength……I think of all the “life time learners” she started on the right road and the families that she influenced!! What a precious legacy of a life well lived!!
Know that our thoughts and prayers continue to lift you up!!
Amy
I am sad to lose my dear friend. I shall miss Bev every day when we go for for a walk or see Bernie working on his puzzle through the window. Bev loved her family and spoke with pride as she showed the pictures of her grandchildren. She was a gentle, but firm teacher who tried hard to help each child. I have many warm memories from our friendship over the years.
Bernard. Kristy and Lori I express my deepest sympathy. Bev was a delightful person and I will always hold her dear to my heart. She fought hard and I am so proud of her, she never gave up hope of getting well. She truly will be missed. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Bev’s death is a sad loss for your family and so many others as she has touched many lives. We will miss her and her kind manner. May you find comfort in your memories and in the legacy of wisdom, grace, and love of family that she left.
Please know that we send sincere condolences and deepest sympathy. You will all be in our prayers.
Dear family of sweet Bev,
Our love, prayers and thoughts go out to all of you at this very difficult time. We were blessed to have had Bev as our three children’s kindergarten teacher. She was a very special person in our lives and we are very thankful to have known her and loved her.
God bless you and grant you His peace and comfort.
Dear family of sweet Bev,
Our love, prayers and thoughts go out to all of you at this very difficult time. We were blessed to have had Bev as our three children’s kindergarten teacher. She was a very special woman in our lives and we are very thankful to have known and loved her. We will miss her.
May God bless you and grant you His peace and comfort.
Love, Bob, Marty, BJ, Levi and Andrea
Bernard and family, As an old “Wessington-ite”, and school friend, I want to say, I am so sorry to hear of your loss. I didn’t get to really know Beverly, except at our ‘All school reunions’. I shared 51 years with my husband and feel for you in losing Beverly. There is always this ‘void’, in my life. Take one day at a a time.
Gerri
Bev will be very missed by our family. Set was truly an asset to our neighborhood. Watching for and waving at her from the window was one of my youngest son’s fun things to do before he started school. He called her “my Bevie Bev”. We are inspired by her courageous battle with cancer and her dedication to walking two miles almost daily. She was an amazing lady! Our prayers are with your family during this time.
Love, Shipley’s
Bernard,
Bev was one of the nicest and supportive persons that I have had the priviledge to serve at St Joseph’s hospital. She was always cheerful and had one one of the most beautiful smiles.
John Payne
Chaplain
St Joseph Hospital
So sorry to hear of “Mrs. Bonamie”s passing. She was our daughter Brooke’s kindergarden teacher here in Polson in 1987. Whenever I saw her she asked about Brooke. After almost 28 years, she still remembered our girl. She was an amazing teacher and part of our community. She will be missed.
Lisa Skalsky
Our prayers and thoughts are with you. Bernie, Christy, and Lori. We have many fond memories of camping, vacations together, and much fun on Flathead Lake. God Bless you all.
Liz and Bruce Gessner
Grandma- You were an amazing grandma. Words cant describe you. You were sweet and caring and all the above. You were always willing to play a million card games with me whenever you would come visit me. You brightend the hearts and lives of many people including me. You always knew just the right things to say. You always knew the lastest gossip about everything! And i loved that about you! You always made sure you knew everything that was going on. Whenever a car would drive by you would always jump up to see who it was! It made me laugh! Whenever i saw you, you always had a smile on your face. You were never down, you were always happy. You never gave up hope during treatment. You fought long a hard against cancer. Everytime i saw you i would realize how strong of a person you were. Moving to montana was the best thing becuase i got to see you more and more. A trip to grandma and grandpa’s house on the lake was my favorite thing to do. Getting your e-mails everyday would put a smile on my face. Im sure going to miss those e-mails. I will always remeber you as the greatest grandma ever! And i thank you for everthing you have done for me grandma! I will forever love you and miss you grandma.
oh and P.S- “Oh forever more!” “Oh Bernard!”…as he spills ketchup on her! i love you grandma!
I am sorry for your loss. May you find comfort from Jesus’ promise in the Bible recorded at John 5:28, 29. Very soon ones like Beverly will be awakened by Jesus himself to no more sickness, no more pain, and no more suffering. Revelation 21:3, 4. You are in my prayers
Bernard, I am so sorry for your loss. I will let my brothers and Phyllis know. Please let me know when the service will be in Wessington.
To Mrs. Bonamie’s Family,
Mrs. Bonamie was my kindergarten teacher in 86-87. I still remember so many vivid memories from her class, from the blowup letters, to the little kitchen that she had in her room to play with. She was a very kind, loving and wonderful teacher.
I am now a first grade teacher, and would like you to know that she set the foundation of my future schooling and helped shape who I am today.
You were one of my favorites, Mrs. Bonamie! I will miss you!
God Bless,
Steph (Mollohan) Buzzell
p.s. I have to share the story about when we were having the spring music recital and right before the concert, she asked me if I had gotten the chicken pox yet. I told her I hadn’t and she said “well, I hope you don’t get them for the concert.” I was suppose to be the lead umbrella girl in one of the songs.
Well, when it came time for the musical, guess who had the chicken pox…
Bernie,
We are very sorry to hear of Bevs passing. We will always remember her for her kindness and dedication to her students. She will be greatly missed.
The Ronn Noble family
I remember Mrs. Bonamie as kind, gentle, and very supportive. I know she was an awesome mother because I had the privilege of a very close friendship with her daughter, Lori…my dear and cherished high school and lifetime buddy. I know she is missed by her family and friends but she is with the Lord and we look forward to seeing her again someday on the other side!