Camilla Margaret (Metcalf) Bauska, 93

Camilla Margaret (Metcalf) Bauska passed away at her home on Nov. 19, 2017, at the age of 93.

She was born March 4, 1924, to Grace (Remore) and Roy “Dick” Metcalf in Kalispell. Her father and his family came to Montana on an immigrant train in 1901. The 11 children in his family and their spouses all lived in the Flathead Valley for a time. They were farmers and had a place in the LaSalle area, on the Flathead River east of Kalispell. Her mother, Grace, came to Montana with her parents and sisters to homestead places near Malta. They then moved to the Eureka area, where Grace taught school in Fortine. After moving to Kalispell and teaching there for several years, she met and married Dick Metcalf. Camilla was one of three children, and attended St. Matthew’s School until her teens, when her mother died. She then attended high school for one year in Oregon, living with an aunt. She spent her senior year at Thompson Falls High School and graduated there in 1941.

After marrying Lester Bauska, they lived at the Bauska farm in Smith Valley for a few years, where their family was started with Leslie and then Roy 13 months later. In 1950 they purchased property in Kalispell where Les’ Gun Shop was built.Their log cabin was moved into town right next to the gun shop. Shortly after, Jack joined the family followed by Greg in 1956.

Camilla’s work ethic was instilled at an early age and culminated in her retirement at the age of 76, the last 38 years as manager of the Four Seasons Motor Inn. Her first job was as camp cook in several of her father’s logging camps in the Flathead area. One of these camps was at Ashley Lake, where her treasured cabin is located to this day. The cabin was easily her favorite place to be and she loved sharing it with family and friends. She also enjoyed jumping in her Jeep with just her dog, and spending days and nights enjoying the sights and sounds of the lake. Especially the loons!

Camilla had a lifelong passion for learning and traveling. She started taking classes at Flathead Valley Community College when it was founded in 1967 and took her last “Seniors” class in 2015. Her keen interest in local and world events would find her reading at least one newspaper daily and watching television newscasts and her favorite PBS programs, to keep informed. Not many subjects could not be discussed with her. Although she lived her entire life in Montana, she traveled extensively. Her travels took her to many countries on several continents. Many of these trips were with her daughter Leslie and beloved son-in-law, Homer.

Friendships were also of high value to Camilla. The “Potluck Group” would regularly have dinner parties, go dancing, play cards and truly enjoy being together as friends. After retiring she found great pleasure in going on field trips through FVCC, where she forged many friendships while learning about the birds and plants of Montana, as well as Montana state history. Retirement also led her to volunteering at the hospital and the Central School Museum, which she found to be enriching.

Camilla’s family have tons of great memories of her. We will always admire her generosity, her class, her optimism, her love of classical music, her dignity, her humbleness and her integrity. We will miss her amazing sense of humor, her correcting our table manners and grammar, her common sense advice and her unconditional love.

She is survived by her four children, daughter Leslie Millspaugh of Seattle; sons Roy of Edmonds, Washington, Jack and Greg of Kalispell; grandson, John Bauska; great-grandsons, Jonathan and Joshua; niece, JoAnn Wold, of Wilsonville, Oregon, and foster son from Laos, Sang Le of Sacramento, California.

She was predeceased by her parents, husband Les, sister Marian Blackmore, brother John Metcalf, son-in-law Homer Millspaugh, and all 21 cousins of her generation on the Metcalf side.

Cremation has taken place and there will be no service at Camilla’s request.

The family suggests any memorials be made to the Flathead County Animal Shelter in honor of Camilla’s lifelong love of animals, or better yet, adopt a pet!