Montana
Obituary for Allie Redmond | July 1, 2024 | Great Falls, MT
Allie Mae Redmond of Vaughn, Montana left this earth on July 1, 2024, at the very young age of 18 years old.
She was born in Sidney Montana, on December 12, 2005, to Christine Persoma and Kevin Redmond Jr. Allie was such a joy as a baby and loved her big sister Avery, fiercely as they grew into the best of friends, even at a very young age. Allie was a protector to all her brothers and sisters as well, Avery, Clayton, Bella, Aspen Letti and Wesley. She was so kind, always sharing and caring to all; Allie really believed Everyone was good and unconditionally accepted all, no matter what.
At the age of 12, Allie was diagnosed with a rare disorder, Andersen-Tawil syndrome which primarily affected the function of her heart. You’d never know she was so fragile, as she was on many medications, had limited mobility and even after being placed on a strict lifestyle, she continued to love life to the fullest including her lake Michigan cold plunges in November.
While living in Michigan, Allie impacted lives and loved many friends. At 16, She decided to make the move back to Montana, where she blossomed at Simms high school. Everyone there naturally navigated to Allie, as she was so gifted and intuitive. She volunteered her time within the school and found her passion with using her voice, which led her to speech and debate with many achievements and the ultimate reward was to be seen and heard. Allie Bear will be forever remembered for her radiant spirit, big heart and her ability to make anyone smile and feel safe and loved.
Allie is survived by her mother Christine Persoma; father Kevin and Jamie Redmond; siblings Avery, Clayton, Bella, Aspen, Letti and Wesley; aunts and uncles Jennifer and Paul Goyne, Joshua Johnson, Heidi and Tyler Linde, and Kelly and Brian Hanson; along with her many cousins; grandparents Sherry and Les Hallgrimson, Frandella Martin, Kelly and Jackie Johnson, Neva and Kevin Redmond Sr., and Rich and Cristy Snider; great grandparents Orinne Herland, D.O Martin and Arlene Askmon. Allie‘s legacy will live on in the hearts of all that she touched, the light that shined inside of her glows through those that knew her best.
“In the end it’s not the years in life that count, it’s the life of your years. You were a beautiful melody in the rhythm of our lives. The music of your life will on”
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Alani Bankhead, running for the U.S. Senate, launched an attack Monday on the University of Montana campus against independent candidate Seth Bodnar, its former president.
Bankhead, who won the Democratic nomination for Senate on June 2, argued Bodnar did not have the capacity to lead and still “deflects” responsibility for gender discrimination allegations in a lawsuit settled in 2024.
Bankhead made her arguments at a campaign event on the heels of a primary win many considered a surprise. Her remarks drew a small crowd to campus and a handful of media.
Behind her, supporters held signs with allegations from the lawsuit.
“Under President Bodnar’s leadership and in violation of UM’s policies and federal law, women’s choices and actions were unreasonably contradicted and questioned,” said one.
In her speech, Bankhead invoked Jeannette Rankin, a Montanan who in 1916 was the first woman elected to Congress.
“Jeannette wouldn’t stand for anyone who discriminates to be in a leadership position,” Bankhead said.
The gender discrimination lawsuit was filed in 2021 against the Montana University System and UM, and it resulted in a $350,000 settlement.
Bodnar led UM for eight years until stepping down this year to run for office. His campaign said he made equity a priority at UM and promoted women.
Bankhead is a 21-year military veteran and graduate of Air War College of the U.S. Air Force.
Bankhead said Rankin noted she “would be nastier” if she had her life to live over, and “in Jeannette’s honor, I’m about to get nasty.”
She repeated allegations in the lawsuit that Bodnar told a UM employee “her weight prevented her from being the face of the University of Montana” and that one of the 18 plaintiffs in the lawsuit “was forced to work with her stalker.”
In a response at the time, UM described the allegations in the lawsuit as “inflammatory,” “argumentative assertions,” and “not statements of fact.”
The lawsuit was settled before the allegations were substantiated or dismissed by the court.
In a statement Monday, Bodnar’s campaign said that he elevated women at the flagship; when he arrived on campus, just one academic dean was a woman, but seven of 13 were women when he left.
Bankhead, fueled by outside money including more than $2.5 million by the Progressive Vet Political Action Committee, surprised many Montanans by winning the Democratic nomination in the primary.
Monday, the same day Bankhead leveled her criticisms, Bodnar announced a slate of endorsements across the political spectrum, including from former Gov. Marc Racicot, a Republican, to former U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, a Democrat.
Bodnar has heavily outraised his opponents.
But Sabato’s Crystal Ball projects the U.S. Senate race in Montana is likely to go to the Republican, Kurt Alme, former U.S. Attorney for Montana and recruit of outgoing U.S. Sen. Steve Daines.
Bankhead pointed to Bodnar’s experience in the U.S. military and as a West Point graduate as reason he should know it’s important as a leader to be accountable and admit mistakes to build trust and credibility.
“This is not about blame,” Bankhead said. “It’s about maintaining trust, demonstrating moral courage, and ensuring that leaders are seen as responsible stewards of their units and their missions.”
One person asked Bankhead how she planned to win having raised just $23,000 in her campaign given the millions going to her opponents.
Bankhead said critics dismissed her in the primary, but she won anyway. She also said Montanans don’t want politicians who are bought and paid for.
Bankhead has repeatedly been asked if she will step down to clear the way for Bodnar, who could appeal to some Republican voters in a red state. She’s vowed to stay in the race.
Monday, Bankhead said Montana Democratic Party bylaws state the party must have a candidate on the ballot, so Bodnar should drop out as the independent.
“If dropping out was the right move to pave the way for a better candidate, I would absolutely do it because the stakes are so high,” Bankhead said. “But Seth Bodnar is absolutely the last person on the face of this earth I would ever drop out of this race for.”
KALISPELL – A 28-year-old Helena man was killed after being struck by a pickup truck while walking on U.S. Highway 2 near Kalispell.
The Montana Highway Patrol reports the incident happened Saturday, just before 3 a.m. at mile marker 117.
The man, whose name was not released, was struck while walking on a section of the highway that has no shoulders and was wearing all dark clothing, the patrol report states.
The pickup truck, driven by an 18-year-old woman from Eureka, was westbound on the highway when the driver activated the high beams, illuminating the pedestrian in the lane.
The truck hit the pedestrian on the front driver’s side bumper.
The driver of the truck stopped to wait for emergency responders, the patrol report states.
All four occupants of the truck were wearing seat belts and escaped injury, although the report indicates that the driver was taken to a hospital in Kalispell.
The passengers in the truck included a 16-year-old girl from Kalispell, a 20-year-old man also from Kalispell, and a 17-year-old girl whose residence was unknown, according to the patrol report.
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