Beatrice Mason, centenarian, died on July 5, 2018, in Atlanta, Georgia. She was born on September 17, 1917, in Poplar, Montana, to Gertrude and Abe Boller.
If ever there was a person with good old Montana blood in her veins, it was Bea. She loved the Big Sky Country like no other. She grew up on a rural homestead northeast of Poplar, where the material comforts of today were rare, but she lived a good life in a loving, extended family. After graduating from Poplar High School in 1935, she moved to Great Falls and attended business school. Her first job came shortly afterwards, working for the United States Construction Company in Billings. At age 100 she still enjoyed recounting her carefree days in Billings.
Bea met Harry Mason just before World War II broke out. She and Harry were married and promptly moved to Portland, Oregon, where he worked as a welder in the shipyards. Their lives changed forever with a call from Bea’s parents, encouraging them to come home to Eastern Montana and help out on the farm. Bea’s eyes would light up and she would chuckle as she told the story about Harry’s excitement in moving to Montana. They started with a simple tar-paper shack, taken from the WPA project to build Fort Peck Dam, plus a small herd of horses and a few cows, and some dryland acres of land. By the time they retired from farming in the late 1970s, they had built one of the largest wheat farms in Roosevelt County.
Bea and Harry raised five children in the Poplar area: Dean, Donna Sue, Patty, Robin, and Kimberly. Bea also raised her grandson Barry, after Robin’s early passing. She was preceded in death by husband Harry, children Robin and Dean, and great grandson Christopher.
Bea’s generous spirit and love of family made her a mentor and example to all that she touched in her life. When anyone had a problem or needed support, they could count on Bea. She loved her family and friends and was always there to help in any way she could. She was a remarkable woman with strong Christian beliefs and values. She believed in living life to its fullest, actually spending the day before her death in the swimming pool and attending 4th of July festivities.
Her family, many grandchildren and great grandchildren and friends, would come from all over the United States every year to celebrate her birthday in Poplar or visit her at her California home during the winter season. She was loved and treasured beyond words. Her best friend, the little brown and white shih tzu, Scruffy, will miss his twice daily walks. To the end of her life, she believed in walking and fought hard to continue the practice, even when it became challenging with advancing age and blindness.