Bonnie Ruth Brown Wallem, 69

Our mother, grandmother, sister and friend, Bonnie Ruth Brown Wallem, passed away from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Thursday April 8, 2010. She was born to Esther (Svennungsen) and Don L. Brown in Fort Benton March 17, 1941. Bonnie was baptized by her maternal grandfather, the Rev. David Svennungsen, at Christ Lutheran Church in Big Sandy. In life Bonnie was involved in serving many facets of Montana State government. She served as the first woman Sergeant-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, 2005 to 2007; Public Safety Officer Standards and Training Council, 2007 to the present; and the Montana Board of Crime Control, 2005 to the present. Bonnie was passionate about making Kalispell a safe place for all citizens and was a strong supporter of all law enforcement. As such, she was instrumental in starting the Volunteers in Police Services for the Kalispell Police Department. She researched how to implement a volunteer program in a police department. Bonnie wrote and developed volunteer policies and procedures, along with the application packet and training manual for volunteers. She and then-Chief of Police, Frank Garner, started the first V.I.P.S. program in the K.P.D. Bonnie helped hire and train the first seven V.I.P.S. for the K.P.D. This program has saved over 3,900 personnel hours and has helped make the streets of Kalispell safer. Bonnie was also very active in the Police Advisory Council. Bonnie helped the P.A.C. 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 her mother and father, Esther D. and Don L. Brown. Bonnie is survived by her husband, Jerry R. Wallem; daughter, Leslie Jo Wallem; granddaughter, Victoria Esther; grandson, Alexander Gerald, of Kalispell; brother, Scott and Nedra Brown, of Helena; sisters, Marsha and Daryl Paulson and Judy and Jim McKenna, all of Bozeman. Memorial services are pending. Memorials and condolences may be sent to 206 Rosewood Dr., Kalispell, MT 59901. Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home is caring for Bonnie s family. You are invited to go to www.jgfuneralhome.com to offer condolences and view Bonnie s tribute wall.