Few people have as much history on the West Shore or have worked there as long as former Lakeside County Water and Sewer District secretary Lois Buck.

That's why, at 78 years old, Buck is finding retirement to be a bitter-sweet change, especially after 20 years of doing a job that she truly loved.

Even so, she said, it was time.

The Lakeside County Water and Sewer District held a special retirement party for her at the Vista Linda on June 19 and then hosted an open house in her honor n June 30. The district also presented her with a plaque to commemorate her years of service-19 years and 11 months, to be exact-to both the district office and those who are served by it.

"I made a lot of friends working for the district," Buck said. "I felt like I was working for the people of the community, as well as the district. It's been a really good job, and I'm proud of the work that we've done there.

"It's hard to leave after so many years, but it's time. You always put off things at home so that you can keep up with work, and there are some many things I never had time to do. Now, I can concentrate on those things, do some of the projects I've been wanting to do and get caught up at home."

Buck began working for the district in 1989, back when it was just the sewer district. In fact, the Lakeside County Sewer District formed just two years earlier, in August of 1987, and did not become the Lakeside County Water and Sewer District until 1997.

She quickly earned a reputation for her hard work and diligence on the job, and not just with her employer. She was also loved by the customers of the district, who would stop in to pay their bills and learned to enjoy Buck's friendliness, as well as her eagerness to serve.

Buck moved to Lakeside with her husband, Reginald, back in 1972, but her history on the West Shore extends back much further. The couple had previously owned a house on the lake, just below Dayton.

Born in Kalispell in 1931, her parents-Glen and Pauline Daley-soon moved to Rollins, where Lois spent a good portion of her life on the family ranch, Big Lodge Flats, much of which her father purchased from his brothers. She attended school at Rollins through the sixth grade and then attended Polson Junior High and Polson High School, from which she graduated in 1949, marrying Reginald in December that same year.

They moved to Polson in 1951, where they owned and operated a store before moving to Dayton. While at their home south of Dayton, Lois worked at the post office in Elmo.

When they moved to Lakeside, Lois worked for a short time at the Lakeside Post Office and then at the mercantile grocery store, from 1976-1979, after which she was employed at the appraisal office in Kalispell. She later chose to attend the community college from 1983-1986 in order to earn an associate degree in business management.

In time, Reginald became ill and the job with the Lakeside sewer district presented the ideal opportunity to put her skills to work while remaining close to home. When she was no longer able to take care of her husband by herself, he went to live at the Veterans home in Columbia Falls, where he had chose to receive further care.

After Reginald's passing, five years ago, Lois found comfort and support at her job. Her boss, Jim Heim, and the board members showed her both kindness and understanding throughout the challenges of her husband's failing health, and in the trying times after his death.

"Jim Heim was a good boss," she said. "Everyone was very supportive of me. The district has been really good to me."

Looking back on her life, Lois recalls both the good times and the bad time.

"I've lived a full life," she said, "but it has gone by so fast. There have been a lot of good times, but tough times too."

The tough times included the loss of their six-year-old daughter, who was hit by car. Years later, their son, David, was severely injured in a car accident near Somers, which occurred on the Fourth of July and left him in a wheel chair, unable to move his arms or legs. It has been 15 years since the accident, and David has regained the use of his arms, as well as some movement in his legs.

Now that she is retired, she is looking forward to having a lot of company, both from her children and her seven grandchildren-six girls and one boy-and five great-grand children. She also plans to do some scrap-booking, work on putting together a family history and possibly learn a second language.

She will continue to support and attend meetings for the Lakeside Community Club, where she has been a member since 1973. She says that she still believes in all the good things the club has done over the years, "just working together to make things better," as Lakeside and the entire Valley have grown.

She says the secret to living a full life and working for so long is to just keep going, no matter what happens.

"Just keep going, every day," she said. "I like having a schedule and I enjoy working. It's kind of hard to get used to not going to work every morning. You get a routine, and you stick with it for as long as you can. It all works if you let it."