Beatrice 'Bea' McLaughlin, 95

Beatrice “Bea” McLaughlin, 95, passed away on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2013, at the Immanuel Lutheran Home in Kalispell.

Daughter of Orrin S. and Lorena A. (Pike) Frost, Bea was born in Eureka on July 14, 1918. She spent her early years on the Frost family ranch in Eureka until going to live with her mother and stepfather during her school years. Bea attended many schools throughout the Northwest, spending several years in Thompson Falls and graduating from Missoula County High School. 

While attending the University of Montana, she pledged Alpha Phi and graduated in 1940 with a degree in education. Bea met Hugh “Bud” A. McLaughlin while teaching school in Dixon and they were married in 1946 in Kalispell. They were married 59 years until Bud’s death in 2005. To this union were born three children, Hugh A. McLaughlin, Becky J. Black and Heather L. Saint. 

Bea was a homemaker, active in the Episcopal Church, Sunday school teacher, Alicia Club, bridge club, Brownie leader and Cub Scout den mother. Bea enjoyed knitting, sewing, her family, was an avid reader and enjoyed crossword puzzles to “keep my mind going.” 

Bea is survived by her children, Hugh McLaughlin and wife Vicky of Apache Junction, Ariz., Becky Black and husband Bob of Kalispell, and Heather Saint and husband William of St. Ignatius; grandchildren, Melissa Wilson and husband John and their children Haley and Riley of Thompson Falls; Kathy Bushnell and husband Paul and their children Chaz and Connor of Helena; Megan Aspinwall and husband Gabe and their children Owen and Apollo of Helena; James Black and his wife Andrea and daughter Logan of Aurora, Colo.; Alex Saint of Missoula and Shannon Saint of St. Ignatius; Jennifer Fogelson and husband Gene and children Breanna and Zayne of Spokane; Elizabeth Rambo and husband Sam and their son Alex of Kennewick, Wash.; and Bryan McLaughlin and daughter Gabrielle of Kalispell. Beatrice is also survived by sisters, Mary and husband Jim Handford, and Lucy Rude, and sister-in-law Sherry Frost, all of Kalispell, and Evelyn O’Boyle of Eugene, Ore.; and brother-in-law, Stan Hanson, of Whitefish. Bea is also survived by many nieces, nephews and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Hugh “Bud”; sisters, Patricia Cook and Leola Hanson; brothers, Lynn, Frank and LeeRoy Frost; and sister-in-law, Jean Frost.  

Funeral services for Bea will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, Nov. 1, at Christ Church Episcopal with the Rev. Joan Grant officiating. Burial will follow at the Glacier Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be from noon to 5 p.m. today, Oct. 31, at Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home.

The family suggests memorial gifts to be given in Bea’s name to the charity of the donor’s choice.

Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home is caring for Bea’s family. You are invited to www.jgfuneralhome.com to view Bea’s tribute wall, offer condolences and share memories.