We celebrate the life and mourn the untimely loss of our beloved Lynn Carlson, 52, who died Aug. 26, 2009, at her home in Whitefish. She will be sorely missed.

She was the youngest daughter of Grace and Joseph Carlson.

Lynn grew up in Glen Ellyn, Ill., and graduated from Glenbard West High School. She went to Stephens College in Columbia, Mo., and graduated with a bachelor of science degree in psychology. She then attended the University of Missouri in Columbia, where she received a master of social work degree. Lynn then returned to Stephens, where she was a professor.

While in her first years of college, Lynn made several trips to Montana with a close college friend. She stayed on Flathead Lake and at a large cattle ranch in Choteau, where she ran a swather and baled hay, rode the horses and hung out with real cowboys at the bunkhouse.

She came to love Montana and wanted to find a way to work and live here. She found work in the Flathead Valley, first running a counseling clinic for Glacier View Hospital, in Kalispell, and later in private practice in Whitefish.

Lynn married Rick Bauer in the mid-1990s, and they made their home in Whitefish. They were married about 10 years.

Lynn was a well-known member of the Whitefish community, where she was often called "Lilly." She loved to putt-putt around Whitefish Lake on her pontoon boat, the Lilly Pad.

She recently returned from a trip to Africa, where she volunteered her time, energy and money helping an orphanage in a small village.

Lynn was preceded in death by her father, Joseph Carlson; her niece, Sarah McCullagh; her grandniece, Brooklyn Bolwahnn; and close friend, Charles Carson.

She is survived by her mother, Grace Carlson, of Wheaton, Ill.; sister, Joan Bolwahnn, and husband, Louis, of Plymouth, Minn.; brother, James Carlson, and wife, Dea, of Kearney, Mo.; sister, Bette Chwalisz, and husband, David, of Woodstock, Ill.; nephews, Bryan Bolwahnn and wife, Shelia, and Brad Carlson, of Kearney, Mo.; nieces, Karin Bolwahnn Mascaro and husband, Sam, of Minneapolis, Amy Beach and husband, Zach, of Grain Valley, Mo., and Chellie Carlson of Chicago; grandniece, Grace Lyn Bolwahnn; grandnephew, Pietro Mascaro; aunts, Berniece Martin, Hazel Wimmer and Billie Nolan, of Dixon, Ill., and Florence Carlson, of Wheeling, Ill.; many loving cousins; close friend, Richard Hanners, of Whitefish; and many numerous friends in Whitefish and across the U.S. She also leaves behind her beloved dog, Gracie, and cat, Lulu.

Memorials may be made in Lynn's name to the Humane Society of Northwest Montana, 3499 U.S. Highway 93 North, Kalispell, MT 59901.

Remembrances of Lynn may be sent to the family c/o Joan Bolwahnn, 2910 Jewel Lane North, Plymouth, MN 55447.

An informal gathering of friends and family will take place at the Great Northern Bar's outdoor deck on Monday, Sept. 7, Labor Day, beginning at 6 p.m. A formal memorial service with family and friends will take place later in October.