Former sheriff Dupont dies at 65

Former Flathead County Sheriff and current county commissioner Jim Dupont died Monday morning at his home in West Glacier. He was 65 and reportedly died of a heart attack after exercising.

Dupont served 16 years as the elected sheriff of Flathead County, from 1990 to 2006, and was elected to the county commission in 2008. As commissioner, he played an instrumental role in discussions between Whitefish and the county regarding the city’s two-mile planning doughnut.

“Jim was the city’s lifeline to the commissioners,” Whitefish mayor John Muhlfeld said on Monday. “He dedicated his entire career to public service, and was a catalyst for making the consolidated 911 emergency services dispatch center a reality for the entire Flathead.”

Muhlfeld extended condolences from the city to the Dupont family and the office of the county commissioners. City Hall flew the flag at half-staff on Monday and councilors took an extended moment of silence before the start of their regular meeting that night.

Councilman Bill Kahle, who worked with Dupont on the doughnut issue, gave his condolences.

“I enjoyed working with Jim and getting to know him,” Kahle said at the meeting. “I liked him very much.”

A pilot all his life, Dupont served in the Navy from 1963 through 1969 and flew transport aircraft in Vietnam. Hailing from Massachusetts, he got an associates degree in criminal justice in California and moved to the Flathead from San Diego in 1977.

Dupont began his career with the sheriff’s office here as a deputy from 1978. He is the longest-serving sheriff in Flathead County history and was involved in a number of high-profile cases.

Just last week, the Flathead County 911 Administrative Board appointed Dupont and Calvin Beringer, a patrol commander with the sheriff’s office, as interim directors at the Office of Emergency Services.

The reaction among county personnel was shock and tearful surprise Monday morning, with many simply saying they were still trying to digest the news.

“He was a great person, I’ll miss him,” commissioner Pam Holmquist said. “He had a great sense of humor. I’ll never forget his smile — it was contagious and made things fun. His decisions were always very intelligent.”

With two years and nine months remaining on Dupont’s six-year term, the Flathead County Attorney’s Office said the position will be open in the general election. Candidates have until Thursday to file.

The Republican Central Committee will present the county commissioners with the names of three candidates to fill Dupont’s seat in the interim.