Margaret Bush

Margaret Bush, 81, a former resident of Libby, died April 21, 2006, in Spokane, Wash.

Margaret was born Nov. 22, 1924, on the Shanholtzer family ranch near Monida. The youngest of nine children, she outlived her two brothers and six sisters.

While in Libby, Margaret worked for about 25 years as a waitress — at the Caboose for about 20 years and then at the Venture Inn. Always dependable and amiable, Margaret served multitudes of the Libby community, often working seven days a week to help raise her family. After retiring, Margaret lived with her children in Montana, Texas and Washington.

Margaret married Verne "Bruno" Bush in Coram on June 21, 1946. They had four children: Lynn, Shan, and the twins, Mitch and Mike. Family was, without a doubt, the most important aspect of Margaret's life. She loved and protected her children and grandchildren, often with a ferocity that was a legend to those who knew her.

In her later years, she was known to her family as "Grandma Baggie" because one of the grandchildren couldn't say "Maggie" as she was often called. Despite her bad knees and having to use a walker and wheelchair in recent years, she still enjoyed the numerous family parties and celebrations where she was surrounded by family and friends.

Margaret was preceded in death by her husband, Bruno, in 1972 and daughter, Lynn, in 2005. She is survived by her three sons, Shan and Mitch, and their families in Spokane, and Mike, of Milltown and his family; eight grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Margaret's family held a wake on April 23 at the family home in Spokane. To honor her memory, the family asks friends and family to offer a gift, hug, or words of love and support to a family member for that is what was most important to her.