Beatrice Martha Hjelle Mark Bea passed away peacefully in her sleep May 21, 2009 at the age of 80. Bea was born and raised in Minnesota. With the exception of a short period of time in Yakima WA, she grew up in Minnesota attending rural schools and New London High School. She was married to Robert Bob Mark in March 1947. Moving with her husband to Spokane WA in 1951, Bea spent the next 30 years living in the Spokane Valley, raising her family and working in various restaurants. While living in the Spokane Valley, she enjoyed camping, motorcycle riding and snowmobiling. In the early 1980s, she and Bob moved to Kennewick WA following his transfer by the railroad. She lived in Kennewick until 2008 when she moved to Portland, OR to live with her son and daughter-in-law. Bea loved visiting her family and friends scattered across the United States. She saw many interesting sites and told numerous stories about her travels. The highlight of each trip was the visit with family and friends. She loved telling stories, especially of her premature birth on the family farm during a snowstorm. The doctor, not expecting her to live through the night, placed her tiny swaddled body in the drawer of a treadle sewing machine cabinet, using it as a substitute for a crib. Eighty years later, she would still laugh over the telling of the story of her birth. Bea valued education and saw to it that her children finished high school and went to college, opportunities that she and her husband never had. Bea took great pride in attending the college graduation ceremonies of all of her children and grandchildren. Bea is survived by her children: daughter Patricia and husband William Beneke of Sunrise Beach, MO; son Glen and wife Teri, Portland, OR; two grandsons Michael Beneke and wife Chris of Jefferson City, MO; Jeffrey Beneke and wife Arla, Peculiar, MO; two great granddaughters: Sarah and Jessie; sister Norma and husband George Tangen, New London, MN; brother Kern Hjelle and wife Verdna of the rural New London area; sister-in-law Irma Mark Hollenbeck and husband Dennis, Concord, CA. Bea is also survived by many cousins, nieces and nephews. Bea was preceded in death by her husband Bob, her parents, Otis and Belinda Hjelle; a sister, Gertrude and infant brother, Gordon. Bea will be interred next to her beloved husband and lifelong partner in Kennewick, WA. Arrangements are being handled by Mueller's Tri-Cities Funeral Home. No services will be held at this time. A celebration of life memorial service will be scheduled at a later date. In lieu of flowers, charitable donations are suggested to the Alzheimer's Foundation or a charity of the donor's choice.