Beatrice Marie "Bea" Person

Bea was born February 8, 1934 in Mohall, North Dakota.

Bea attended and graduated high school in Walla Walla, WA in 1952.

Bea married Art Bertelsen on February 27, 1953, in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Together they raised Art’s daughters, Linda and Sharon. Later they were blessed with two more children, Steven and Janis. Bea and Art were involved in catching and processing crab, salmon, and other fish. They made many friends and influenced many people in Alaska and Washington during their 45 years of marriage. Before moving to Selah where they would then build a huge arena to accommodate Bea’s passion for horses, she became a champion cutter. They built a beautiful home and lived together in the Wenas until Art’s passing in 1997.

Bea met James Person Sr at a number of meetings where they had joined forces to prevent the down zoning of her property. They married at their home on September 13, 2002. She was welcomed and loved by his family and his many friends. Together they shared a passion for the country, which included their farm and love for horses and cattle. They spent much of their time riding, traveling, taking care of her dogs and cat and swinging on their back porch watching her hummingbirds and quail.

Kind, gentle, honest, and patient are just a few words used to describe Bea; she was a remarkable woman who loved to ride her horse KW. She rode until her body wouldn’t allow for it. She never had a negative thing to say, in fact the strongest word, which we all loved and heard her use many times, was “pifel.” Bea touched many lives and will forever be in our hearts.

She is preceded in death by her mother.

She is survived by her husband, James Person Sr of 12 years; children: Steve Bertelsen and Janis Bertelsen; step-children: Linda Backlin, Sharon Doll-Knutsen, Jim Person Jr, and Cory Person; grandchildren: Kevin and Whitney Bertelsen, Erica Naasz. James, Kindal, Ashli and Zack Person, and two great grandchildren. She is also survived by many close friends and relatives.

Memorial Service will be 1:00 pm Tuesday, October 14, 2014 at Keith and Keith Funeral Home.

To share a memory of Beatrice, visit www.keithandkeith.com.

Arrangements under the direction of Keith & Keith Funeral Home, Yakima, WA.