Sept. 29, 2024, marks five years since Frank Bonde passed on at the age of 90. Frank was born and raised in Pleasanton, California. Growing up in a farming family, he learned the importance of hard work and instilled those values in all that knew him.
They say that when you have more years behind you than ahead of you, you begin to think differently and slow down. But that is when life really kicked into gear for Frank. And gears are something he knew a great deal about, having earned a living as a mechanic at Peterson Tractor Company and Kaiser Sand and Gravel.
Frank moved to Montana in 1992, one day after he retired, and the Montana lifestyle is where he thrived. After several trips packing into the Bob Marshall Wilderness, he volunteered at the Owl Creek Packer Camp, where he cared for the outfitter's horses and mules. He enjoyed working on projects at homes in Missoula and Condon, near Holland Lake. These projects were not small, tinkering projects; they were substantial. And while he enlisted the help of many friends and family members to help him complete his ambitions, he always returned the favor by helping them with their endeavors.
Frank was a one-of-a-kind, unforgettable character that left us all with so many fond memories. As you read this, I hope the memories of those moments make you smile and laugh. Sometimes even when he was serious, we found him to be so humorous. Perhaps it was the words and phrases he used or simply the way he conveyed a thought.
A heartfelt thank you to all his friends and family members for your kindness and dedication in helping him fulfill his dreams. As we continue with our daily lives, he is not far from our thoughts. Especially when we are working on something he used to be an integral part of, and we remember all he taught us. That is when we really miss him. We know you miss him, too.
Reader Comments(0)