Bonny L. Allen

Bonny Letha Allen passed away peacefully at her home in Winnett on Saturday, January 30^th, after a long battle with cancer surrounded by her family and friends.

Bonny was born November 3rd, 1941, to William (Bill) Welter and Letha Viola Sinclair in Lewistown, MT. She was the youngest of three children and grew up on the family ranch east of Winnett. As a young girl, Bonny was always around and loved animals, especially her pony, Bingo, and her dog, Teddy. She also loved the bum lambs and milk cows even though they were considered work.

Bonny graduated from Winnett High School in 1959 and graduated from Billings Business College with a degree in Accounting. Bonny was married to her first husband, Bud Dengel of Grass Range, shortly after college, but the marriage only lasted a couple of years. After moving back to the ranch with her two boys, she went to work at the Petroleum County Courthouse as the Clerk & Recorder, Clerk of District Court & Elections Administrator. When the Welters bought the Gusher Bar, Bonny helped when she was not working at the Courthouse or on the ranch. It was then that she caught Charles (Chuck) Edgar Allen's eye, who had just returned from Vietnam; after a short courtship, they married on July 31st, 1970. In June 1971, their daughter Letha Diane was born, and sometime during the next year, they moved to Billings, where Bonnie Jo was born, and then to Glendive. After five years, Bonny and her family moved back to the Welter Ranch, and Bonny went to work at the Courthouse again. In 1981 the family moved to town, and in 2000 Bonny retired from her career at the Courthouse. Over the next several years, Chuck & Bonny tried living in different places, such as Big Sandy, Billings, and North Carolina, but Winnett was always the place that Bonny's heart belonged. In 2008 Chuck & Bonny moved back to Winnett for the last time. In July and August 2020, one of the high points in her life was celebrating 50 years of marriage to Charles and sharing in that celebration with plenty of family and friends.

Bonny enjoyed crocheting, knitting, golfing, hunting, and camping & fishing. She loved being outdoors, working on the ranch, in her garden or flower beds, or just simply spending time with family and friends. Bonny was not selfish or self-centered, she put everybody else's wants or needs ahead of her own, and she loved her family, even her extended family, unconditionally. Bonny always looked for the good in people and had a smile or hug for everyone. Bonny had a way of making everyone around her feel at peace and loved, and her passion for life, love, and happiness was shown and shared with everyone. She shared her zest for life and her love for others by being active in the Methodist Church, United Methodist Women's, Lions Club, and Senior Citizens through the years.

Bonny is preceded in death by her parents William & Viola Welter, her in-laws Claude & Grace Allen, her two brothers Kenneth (Ken) Welter and Nicholas (Nick) Welter, sister-in-law Laverna Welter, her son-in-law Charles BurLee Allen and two grandchildren Wesley Tonkin & Christopher Wells.

Bonny is survived by her husband of 50+ years, Charles Edgar Allen of Winnett, their four children Dale A. Allen (Jan) of Lewistown, Rodney Keith Allen (Debbie) of Apex, NC, Letha Diane Allen of Winnett & Bonnie Jo Wells (John) of Billings, her three sisters-in-law Rosemary Welter of Billings, Linda Allen, and Claudia Allen both of Shepherd, her two brothers-in-law Gary Allen of Winnett and Martin Allen of Shepherd, 17 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Bonny will be cremated and a Memorial Service or Celebration of Life will be held later. Charles will determine the event's date and location and share all details with family and friends. Cloyd Funeral Home is assisting the family.

Instead of flowers, please donate to the United Methodist Church in Winnett, MT, or a charity you choose in memory of Bonny and they may be left with the Cloyd Funeral Home.  Condolences for the family may be posted online at www.cloydfuneralhome.com.