All stories must come to an end, and the same—sadly—is true of storytellers. For more than a decade, Sue Carlbom contributed to Treasure State Lifestyles, generating sales, cultivating ideas, and writing many of the articles you have enjoyed. She was not only an instrumental member of this team, but a wonderful human being and a bona fide Western spirit.
A true Montanan, Sue was deeply involved in the community, no matter where she lived. In Augusta, she and her first husband, Lee, owned and operated the Sun Canyon Lodge from 1982 to 2005 (when their son, Josh, took over the business).
Lee passed away in 2007, and Sue later found companionship in sculptor Dale Sheldon. The two were married in 2014, and moved to Conrad, where Sue was active in the Pondera Arts Council, helping to enrich the community through art in its many forms.
When Dale passed in 2020, Sue returned to Augusta to be closer to family. Though her grandchildren were her greatest passion, she also loved meeting people, attending community events, and telling stories, which made her an invaluable asset to this publication.
Sue passed away in 2022, leaving behind a legacy of love—for family, for friends, for Montana. Though she is no longer with us, we continue to be inspired by her ceaseless curiosity, compassion, and adoration for this place we call home.
The Treasure State will miss you, Sue. Until we meet again in the Big Sky…