Steven Terrill Bauska, 78

Steven Terrill Bauska was born on a warm, late summer September day in 1944 to Glen W. and Maude L. (Lynch) Bauska in Kalispell. He joined his big sister, Lorraine, making the little family complete.

Steve grew up terrorizing the Evergreen neighborhood with all his many friends and cousins, attending Evergreen Elementary and later Flathead High School.

After high school, Steve enlisted in the Army National Guard and was stationed at Fort Ord, Calif. It was around this time that Steve met and married Marie "Squeek" Boursaw, starting his own family with two beautiful daughters, Channon and Shirlan. They later divorced.

In 1967, Steve met and later married Kay Volavka, immediately gaining two more daughters, Denise and Sherry, and a son, Chaz. Shortly thereafter Steve and Kay would welcome the final piece of their family quilt, another son, Wade James.

Steve and Kay embarked on many adventures throughout their years together. Some were good, and others not so much. But they always managed to persevere and remained together until Kay took her last breath with Steve by her side.

Steve Bauska was a genuine free spirit, jack of all trades (and as he would say, master of none!) kind of guy. He was our poet laureate, writing the most beautiful poems that came straight from his heart. Steve played the guitar, wrote songs and could sing as well. There won’t be a single day that goes by that we won’t miss that strong, rich and silky baritone voice we loved.

Steve was an avid hunter and fisherman and could be found as often as possible up in the Pleasant Valley area enjoying one or both with his dad, Glen, or nephew Shane. More often than not, he’d just load up the whole dang family, a picnic lunch, and head for the hills. Any day was a good day to be in the woods according to him.

Steve joined his beloved Katie "Kay" in the righteousness of Heaven on Feb. 10, 2023, after a short and thankfully swift battle with lung cancer. Steve was preceded in death by his parents Glen and Maude, and a great-nephew Conor.

Steve is survived by his sister, Lorraine Graham (husband Neil, nephew Shane, and niece Whitney); his children and grandchildren: Channon (grandkids Andrew, Allyce, and Anthony); Shirlan (granddaughters Jessica and Jordan); Wade (wife Danielle and grandsons Tyler and Brandon); Denise (grandkids Tanya, Jermaine, Mark and Skeeter); Sherry (husband Darren and grandkids Robert and Valerie) and Chaz (granddaughter Ronica and great-grandson Josiah).

Ride the winds Old Outlaw, and until we meet again — we wish you laughing waters.

A memorial service will be held later this summer in Kalispell.