Lewiston Tribune, September 10, 2013
Bonnie Evelyn Brumley-Kannada
Bonnie Evelyn Brumley-Kannada, 86, went to be with her Lord on Sept. 4, 2013, at her son's home in White Bird. Bonnie, the eldest of eight children, was born Oct. 22, 1926, in Ontario, Ore., to Thomas and Emma Lindsey. She attended elementary school in Golden, Idaho, and graduated from Riggins High School in 1945 as valedictorian of her class.
In June 1952, Bonnie married John Hickey Brumley (Truman). They had four sons: Lindsey, John, Nathan and Bonner. Lindsey and John were twins born prematurely, and Lindsey died shortly after birth. The greatest enjoyment of Bonnie's life was raising her three sons, doing so with passion and dedication. The family spent countless days in the Idaho backcountry, which is where Bonnie felt most at home.
After the death of Truman in 1990, Bonnie married LeRoy Kannada in 1992. They were instant mountain partners. If they weren't hunting, they were fishing; and in between, they were constantly looking for the mother lode of huckleberries. It was a great friendship until LeRoy's death in July 2003.
Bonnie was very active in her church and wrote an autobiography called "Keep Your Eyes Upon the Lord," depicting her life in the harsh backcountry of Idaho in the middle and later 1900s. She spent a few years as an active member of the White Bird City Council. Bonnie was more comfortable in a pair of boots and a hunting jacket than she was in a dress and heels. She could sneak through a creek bottom and catch a mess of fish, wield an old slide-action .30-06 with deadly precision, and handle a hunting knife like a pro. She was tough when challenged by a task yet so very gentle when dealing with her grand- and great-grandchildren. She could cook for a small army, clean up the kitchen, and still be the first one up to see the daylight on an elk ridge. Bonnie was your best hunting buddy when an elk was down in a deep canyon and she could dance your legs off at Hoot's until 1 in the morning. She loved to garden, tend to her chickens, and can fruits and vegetables for her family and friends. Bonnie's tomatoes were famous locally. When the Lord created this lady the mold was broken; none of us may ever again see such a wonderful combination in one woman.
Bonnie is survived by her three sons and their wives, eight grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, four brothers and three sisters. They were all the highlight of Bonnie's life, and she relished every second of their presence.
A viewing will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday at Blackmer's Funeral Home ; in Grangeville. Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at White Bird Cemetery, with a light meal following at the Odd Fellows Hall in White Bird. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Royal Gem Rebekahs in White Bird.