Susan Metzger, 80, “departed the Bigfork area bound for her heavenly home” Jan. 11, 2012, after a valiant battle with cancer.

Susan was born Nov. 14, 1931, in Elyria, Ohio, to Marie Rose Waldecker and Michael William Gusky. Both her father and stepfather passed away while she was young, so she, her two brothers and six sisters were raised during the Great Depression by her mother, Marie. This childhood instilled in her a deep maternal instinct and a wonderful love and concern for her children, no matter how old they grew or how far away they were.

After a failed first marriage when she was very young, she met and married Larry Metzger July 30, 1956, in Angola, Ind., and spent the next 55 years as a wonderful, loving, caring wife and mother.

Susan followed her husband, as his job took them to several locations. They lived in Tennessee, North Carolina, Texas, Europe and Montana. Susan was always quick to adapt and always developed a love of each place and its people. She and Larry moved to Bigfork in 1990 when he retired.

Susan loved to cook and developed into an excellent cook. The family will greatly miss all of the wonderful smells and great food that came out of her kitchen. The kitchen is not closed, “just moved to a higher location.”

She also loved to bowl and loved her bowling family. She looked forward each year to one or two bowling trips to Reno for national tournaments and just a bit of gambling.

She is survived by four children, Erich and Jennifer, Allen and Sandy, Frances, and Oren and Kim; three sisters, Mary Resko, Maxine Kuna and Ann Thompkins, all of Ohio; six grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and numerous beloved nieces and nephews.

Susan will be greatly missed. So long, “Kitten.”

A celebration of her life will be held at 7 p.m. this Sunday evening, Jan. 15, at the Little Brown Church in Bigfork. All are welcome to come and celebrate a beautiful life.

In lieu of flowers, Susan requested donations be made to the Montana Food Bank and/or the Salvation Army of Kalispell.