When a tiny mountain town loses its longest living resident, the town has lost a close family member. John Bonan was such a loss. Elkhorn, Montana said goodbye to a brother. The Elkhorn family he headed includes its children and grandchildren. Each one has been influenced by his love for animals and nature. They miss him immeasurably.
John was a fixture of the town. Always alert to visitors across the street at the historic buildings, he greeted them, “You can go in! The doors are unlocked.” Families were welcomed with a hearty, “All children get a free rock!”
Those resounding welcomes and free rocks opened the door to conversations. He became the unofficial Elkhorn Tour Guide, verbally taking their vision of the town back to its heyday years and his family’s history there. He listened to their stories of travel and life. In return he received mail from all over the nation and the world, letters and gifts in return for his gifts of rocks and listening.
