Parents Father: FELKER, Preston Richard Mother: DOUD, Jessie L. Birth Born on October 27, 1921 in Superior, Mineral Co., MT Death Died on February 26, 2012 in Missoula, Missoula Co., MT Buried in Missoula Cemetery in Missoula, Missoula Co., MT Marriages HAMILTON, Leonard Arthur Married on August 14, 1942 Children HAMILTON, David Richard: 1943 - March 25, 1950 Notes Obituary: Only child of Preston (a principal and teacher) and Jessie (also a teacher) Felker. Raised in Montana (Missoula, Philipsburg, Arlee, Corvallis, and Helena.) Attended Missoula County High School and University of Montana. Married Leonard A. Hamilton in 1942. Together they started L.A. Hamilton Lumber Company, which donated materials and lumber to the Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch in the 1950s. Bonnie commissioned a stained glass window in the chapel on the Ranch in 2003, to honor Leonard. Her residence was donated to the Ranch upon her death. In 1976, Leonard retired from the lumber business and liquidated the company. They formed a partnership to develop the Southgate Mall on the old mill site, and Bonnie remained an active partner until her death. Bonnie: --founded the Montana Eye Bank/Montana Eye Research Foundation in 1980 --donated the family home to Mountain Home Montana in 1999 --set up the Bonnie Hamilton Social Work Scholarship for graduate Social Work students at the University of Montana --set up the Preston R. Felker Scholarship Fund at Arlee High School --set up a nursing scholarship at Highline Community College in Seattle --supported the Missoula Symphony Association, First Night Missoula, Missoula Art Museum, and the St. Martin de Porrs shelter, as well as the Ranch, Mountain Home, and the Eye Bank Bonnie earned many honors over the years, including a national Points of Light award in 2007 and a Generous Lady Award from the Independent Order of Odd Fellows in 2006. She was honored by the YWCA in their Salute to Women in 2009. She was a lifetime member of Esther Rebekah Lodge No. 5, serving as noble grand multiple times, state president (1976,) and warden. At the time of her death, she was noble grand of her Lodge. At the time of her death, Bonnie was survived by four children, seven grandchildren, two step-grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, two step-great-grandchildren, and five great-great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband Leonard and her son David. Her obituary notes that Bonnie "cultivated many friendships with young and old in the community" and that she "would rarely refuse an offer for a drive in the countryside and was a wealth of stories about Missoula and western Montana history." She was "a talented public speaker" who was "always able to entertain a crowd with anecdotes and stories, all told with her self-deprecating sense of humor." Memorial donations were directed to Mountain Home Montana in Missoula or the Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch Foundation in Billings. Bonnie was clearly a remarkable woman whose generosity impacted a tremendous number of people, both in Montana and in other states. A long life wonderfully lived. Rest in peace, Mrs. Hamilton. Sources Cemetery: Missoula Cemetery Missoula,MT Grave 9, Lot 3, Block 48A Images Leonard & Bonnie (Felker) Hamilton