Carla Malsam, a kind and caring soul, passed away on Wednesday, January 9, 2019, peacefully at the University of Utah Hospital in Salt Lake City from a massive stroke. She was surrounded by those she loved, her husband Gary, sons Justin and Luke, and her sister Dianne.
Carla was born on May 31, 1945, the daughter of Carlos and Lucille (Sedlacek) Collins. She was raised in Fairview, MT. From a very young age she had a love of music that stayed with her for her whole life. It started with the ukulele and expanded to a love of playing the guitar and piano. On July 5, 1969 Carla married Gary Malsam. They started their life together in Havre, MT, where Carla was a teacher at the Havre Radar Base. Later they moved to Roundup, MT to work on a ranch. It was there, in Roundup, that Justin was born. It was later that they moved to Avon, MT where she had some of her fondest memories. While in Avon their son Luke came into the family. One of the things Carla loved to do was spend time with her best friend Rita Graveley and play the pump organ at St. Theodore Catholic church. After 18 years in Avon they moved to Gardiner to manage a ranch. In the summer of 1998 Gary and Carla moved back to Fairview to care for her aging parents (Carlos and Lucille Collins) where she lived until her passing.
During Carla's life, she loved music, but even more so she loved Jesus and helping those who were in need, whether it was taking people to get groceries, taking over food, helping when sick, or just visiting and being a friend. Carla considered herself a caregiver and loved to help people out whether it was someone she knew or often times a “friend” she’d just never met. She loved her Doberman “Jake” and it was a common sight to see them together.
Carla is survived by: her husband, Gary Fairview, MT; her two sons, Justin (Allison) Malsam of Boise, ID and Luke (Jamie) Malsam of Sidney, MT; six grandchildren, Chance, Vanessa, Celeste, and Miranda Malsam, Carter Johnson, Ashton Robidou; and her sister, Dianne Murray of Liberty Lake, WA.
Carla was preceded in death by: her parents, Carlos and Lucille Collins, and her brother Charlie Collins.