Beatrice Ina O'Donnell, 94
Beatrice Ina O’Donnell, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, aunt and friend, passed away June 3, 2025, at the young age of 94. She was born on Sept. 29, 1930, and was preceded in death by her loving husband, James D. O’Donnell (1985), and sons, Daniel J. O’Donnell (2015) and Kerry A. O’Donnell (2011).
Bea’s legacy of love and devotion will live on with her family and friends.
Bea was born a whopping 2 1/2 pounds in Pocatello, Idaho, and joined her older brother, Stanley Stamper. Bea tells the story that she was so small that she was put in a shoe box and kept warm near the wood stove. Her grandfather would hold her in his large Italian hands and exclaim that if she grew up to be a lady, he would grow up to be president. Bea would say with a smile, “I am a lady, but he never was the president!” Bea was a great example of what a strong woman was from the time she was born. At age 9, she developed bovine tuberculosis and was sent away to live for two years at the state hospital in Galen, Montana. Her family would visit her by riding the train back and forth from home. Bea graduated from high school in White Sulphur Springs, Montana, in 1949. She was a cheerleader and played girls basketball and had many stories that she shared.
After high school, Bea moved to Great Falls and obtained her nursing degree from the Columbus Hospital School of Nursing in 1952. While in nursing school, she met the love of her life, Jim-Jim (as she called him), while she was doing an internship at the State Hospital in Warm Springs. Jim O’Donnell was an iron worker at the Anaconda Copper Mining Company. He and his friends loved to drive over to visit the nurses and take them out dancing. Bea and Jim were married at the Ringling Church in Ringling, Montana, on Aug. 23, 1952, and continued their love of dancing together until his premature death with cancer in 1985. While married, they welcomed six children, Danny, Deborah, Terry, Becky, Shawn and Kerry. All were born in Butte except for the youngest, Kerry was born in Kalispell.
Bea was a fantastic nurse and was the nighttime nursing supervisor at Kalispell Regional Hospital until she retired in 1995. She was respected and will be remembered by many patients that she cared for and nurses that she trained. Bea was a great cook and baker, she also loved gardening and sewing. She was always staying busy and involved with her children and grandchildren’s activities, bunco, pinochle and Red Hat Ladies. As many may remember, if you missed her when you called, her answering machine said, “To leave a message because I am either working or playing.” In the last few years, she enjoyed the help, friendship, and meals she got from Meals on Wheels and was proud to be on the front page of the Daily Inter Lake just this year! Bea was also a passionate NBA fan, and her ultimate favorite player was Kobe Bryant of the LA Lakers. One of her last big road trips was with her son Shawn and family to watch Kobe play in Portland, Oregon, against the Trailblazers. She also loved Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors; she cheered them on all the way through the playoffs this year.
Bea is survived by her children: Deborah M. Lucier, Terrance Michael O’Donnell, Rebecca J. O’Donnell, Shawn P. O’Donnell (Arlene); six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
In all that she did, Bea was the embodiment of kindness, grace and humor. She made a lasting impact on those who were lucky enough to know her, and her memory will be cherished by all whose lives she touched. Bea always told us that it is not easy getting younger and that she has had a good life! We will hold her forever in our hearts and smile.
Services will be on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, at Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home in Kalispell. Viewing is from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Services will be from 1 to 2 p.m. with burial to follow at Conrad Cemetery. There will be a reception at the Village Green Community Center at 3:30 p.m. Please feel free to come with stories and memories to honor our Queen Bea.
Beatrice Ina O'Donnell