Former Flathead County Commissioner Bob Watne died Feb. 2 at the age of 75.  

Watne served two terms as commissioner from 1995 to 2006. Prior to running for elected office, he worked as a heavy-equipment operator with the county Road Department.  

The Republican grew up in the Flathead Valley, according to a 2000 article in the Inter Lake. Known as the quietest of the commissioners at the time, he said simply of his bid for reelection that “I’ve got to stay there to see the issues through.” 

Watne died in Kalispell, according to a death notice.  

Commissioner Pam Holmquist on Thursday said he served the county well.  

“He was a great guy,” Holmquist said. “He cared about the community.”  

Watne and his wife Beth founded Montana Wild Wings Recovery Center in 2013. The nonprofit center is dedicated to helping wild birds of prey through rescue, rehabilitation and release, along with education.  

“He poured his heart and soul into designing and helping build the entire complex that makes up the center,” Montana Wild Wings Recovery Center posted on its Facebook page. “Over the years, Beth and Bob have rescued, rehabilitated and released many birds. These outings never phased him, whether it involved getting into waders to rescue a bird from the river, running after them when they didn’t really think they wanted to be caught or hanging out the door of a vehicle with a flashlight to find them in a ditch along the highway in the dark.” 

Watne became an accomplished bird handler, taking pride in developing relationships with the more difficult birds, according to the post, and in handling birds he was “fearless.”  

Watne was a graduate of Flathead High School and earned a degree in automotive sciences. He went on to take automotive jobs at local car dealerships and body shops before going into highway construction. He operated a cattle ranch and custom hay service from his Smith Valley property, but sold the land when he was elected, according to an Inter Lake article.  

His volunteer service included serving on the Smith Valley Fire Department board, Smith Valley school board, as a 4-H leader and member of the Montana Stockgrowers Association.  

His public service was not without controversy. In 2004, Watne was convicted of obstructing a police officer following a confrontation with a Flathead County Sheriff’s deputy during a fire at his then fiancée's barn.  

He was also cited for driving under the influence in 2001 and 2002, with the second charge coming before he was sentenced for the first one.  

When Watne ran for his first term he did so billing himself as “not a politician” riding an anti-government platform into the commissioners’ office.  

“I never thought I’d get into politics,” Watne said in 2000. “It’s an interesting career. You never quit learning.” 

Deputy Editor Heidi Desch may be reached at 758-4421 or [email protected].