Beatrice 'Bea' Marais, 87

Beatrice "Bea" Marais, 87, passed away on Friday, Sept. 28, 2007, at the Immanuel Lutheran Home in Kalispell. She was born on Jan. 5, 1920, in Manchester, England, to William and Mary Ann (Waring) Roberts.

Bea lost both of her parents when she was very young. She spent some time in a Catholic orphanage affiliated with a convent, then lived with her older sister. Bea met and married Gordon Marais in Great Britain while he was stationed there in the U.S. Army. They had two children and moved to the United States in 1947. They later divorced.

Bea lived in New York, California and finally in the Flathead Valley. She was in retail management and worked at Bullock's Wilshire on Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles, a historical landmark that was destroyed during the Rodney King riots.

Bea was known for her creative baskets, which were spotlighted in the L.A. Times newspaper. She enjoyed sewing and reading until her eyesight began to fail.

She was also very social and liked being with people. She will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.

Bea is survived by a daughter, Susan Trust, and husband, Ken, of Bigfork; and a son, Philip Marais, of Palos Verdes, Calif.; three grandchildren and one great-grandson.

No services are planned at this time.

Johnson Mortuary and Crematory is caring for Bea's family. You are invited to go to www.johnsonmortuary.com to offer condolences and sign Bea's guest book.