Lynne Beauclair, 64

Lynette Marie Beauclair, a longtime resident of the Flathead Valley, passed away Feb. 25, 2019, enveloped by the enduring love of her family. Knowing the grace and dignity with which she lived her life, it was not surprising to see this continue in full expression following her stage 4 cancer diagnosis approximately a year prior.

Lynne’s lively spirit brought boundless compassion and genuine love into this world. Each encounter she had was infused with her desire to make authentic connection with every person she met. She walked through this world with an openness to all of life that created experiences and encounters that reflected her inquisitive, adventure-seeking nature.

Gratitude guided her journey through life, making even the smallest of details a delight. She was buoyant in a way that lifted us all. Lynne loved the world around her with a passion that left all nurtured in her path. She fed the birds, watered the earth, and tended her garden with an indelible commitment to its beauty and worth.

Lynne was born June 30, 1954, in Bonners Ferry, Idaho, and grew up in Moyie Springs, Idaho, later moving to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, where she graduated from high school. She continued her education at the University of Colorado, Greeley, where she obtained her Master of Speech-Language Pathology degree. She began her career in Florida, establishing a successful private practice clinic, which also set the foundation for a lifetime of mentorship for new graduates. Florida brought many important life changes, the best of which was giving birth to her only daughter, Brooke, and meeting her husband, David.

Lynne’s love of the ocean and exploration of its deep mysteries lead her on countless diving adventures where she captured its beauty and complexity through underwater photography. But it was her lifetime love of the mountains that called her and her new family back to the Northwest in 1993.

She continued her career at Kalispell Regional Medical Center for the next 25 years, touching the lives of her patients, co-workers and students, and retiring in 2018. To this day, countless students continue to benefit from her legacy as a speech-language pathologist. She brought her unique blend of knowledge, compassion, and humor to each patient encounter so that people left her care feeling supported and empowered to continue on their healing journey.

Lynne’s adventurous spirit shined in her many passions that extended beyond her career into the community and the international world. She was a hiker, a traveler and a gardener. She found her way back to the water she loved, kayaking the many lakes and rivers around her. There was never a shortage of canned goods she gathered and prepared from her garden. And at the end of her very full days, there could always be found a book in her hands, for Lynne was a seeker and literature was her love.

In the last years of her life, Lynne’s deep joy lay in her grandchildren who had the short, brief gift of getting to know their Mimi. She laughed and held and taught them with unabashed joy. Love flowed out of her and while her physical self has left us, her love remains.

Lynne is survived by David Gray, her devoted husband of 30 adventuresome years; her daughter Brooke (White) (husband Aaron Ober), children Beau and Quinn; stepdaughter Michele (husband Mark Petersen), and grandchildren Logan and Darcy; stepdaughter Angela (husband Michael Artuso), and grandson Jack. She is also survived by her sister Cheryl Brock, brother Tom Beauclair, and brother Michael Billingsly. The Beauclair family is large with many aunts, uncles, and cousins throughout the United States.

A celebration of life will be held on her birthday, June 30, at the Blaine Creek Grill in Kalispell from 2 to 5 p.m. All who knew her and loved her are welcome to attend.

“You have left us a beautiful, forever legacy in the ways you loved and lived and cared for us in your unique Lynne Beauclair way. You have left us missing you in all the tangible ways you moved through our lives. But Lynne, your light continues to shine so brightly.”