Scott Bauska

Scott Bauska died at home from cancer on December 31, 2025. He was born in Kalispell, Montana July 1, 1950 to Ralph and Lorraine Bauska. He was welcomed home by his brother Ken and would meet his sister Janice three years later. He lived his entire childhood in the beautiful Flathead Valley.

He attended Kalispell schools except one year when he "was the seventh-grade class" in a two-room school in Dayton, Montana, while he lived with his Grandma. He graduated from Flathead High School in 1968. Soon, he joined the Navy and was on the east coast serving on the USS Nautilus, the world's first nuclear powered submarine.

After his service was complete, Scott piled his possessions into his little red sports car, put the top down, and drove across the country to Corvallis, Oregon to pursue his degree on the G.I. Bill at Oregon State University. He stayed there two years, then transferred to the University of Oregon, where he graduated in 1978. He then began a long career with Portland General Electric (PGE).

PGE sent Scott out to Boardman in eastern Oregon to work at a new coal fired power plant being built. Scott met his wife Kathy at the plant and they were married on January 10, 1983. His two children, who were Scott's pride and joy, soon came into the family. After 20 years in Boardman, Scott opted to move to St. Helens and work at the Beaver Power Station where he became the plant manager, a position from which he retired.

Scott was a consummate volunteer. Among the many things he volunteered for were coaching kids' sports; delivering Meals on Wheels; cooking and washing dishes for Community Meals; and serving on the Morrow County school board, the Boardman city planning commission, and as a trustee for the St. Helens Student Foundation. He was a master gardener, and planned, planted, and led a team of volunteers at a community garden that supplies the Columbia Pacific Food Bank with thousands of pounds of fresh food every year.

Scott loved to travel especially in the mountains of the West and Canada, but also loved the Scottish and English countrysides, and had a memorable trip to New Zealand. He was a hiker and loved scrambling up peaks, an activity often done with his children. Scott also loved to read and credited his mother for bringing that passion into his life. He never let go of a book once it came into his possession.

Survivors include his wife Kathy of nearly 43 years, his sister, his son Thomas (Rachael), Emily (Casey), and four grandchildren.

A memorial service is planned for later in the year. Donations in his memory can be made to the Columbia Pacific Food Bank (cpfoodbank.org) for the community garden.