Beatrice “Bea” Irene Mapston Davis, daughter of Mervin and Rose Mapston, was born September 5, 1931, in Stockett, Montana and passed away in Great Falls, Montana, July 16, 2024.
A celebration of her life will be at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 23, 2024, at O’Connor Memorial Chapel with burial in Sand Coulee Cemetery.
Bea was raised on the land her grandfather, James Mapston, homesteaded in Giffen Coulee. She attended schools in Stockett and Centerville and graduated from Centerville High School in 1950.
On June 3, 1950, Bea married Ralph Davis from Polson, Montana. The first year they lived in Great Falls and then moved to Polson the second year. They moved back to various places in Great Falls before settling out to the ranch for a brief time. During these years, their 4 children were born.
In October of 1959, they bought a new home in Riverview in Great Falls. On June 1, 1960, her dad, Mervin Mapston, passed away very unexpectedly so they picked up and moved back to the ranch to help her mom. In the fall of 1968, Rose decided to sell them the home place.
They took over the bus route that Rose and Mervin operated since 1945 and continued until June of 1975. In the summer of 1975, Bea started working part-time for Northern School Supply, and later worked for various insurance agencies until she retired.
In the fall of 1984, Ralph and Bea moved back to Great Falls and enjoyed traveling to Alaska, camping with friends and family, and traveling back and forth to Arizona for the winters.
Bea was preceded in death by her parents, Mervin and Rose Mapston; husband, Ralph Davis; sisters, Mervine Yurek, Verna Hall, and Louise Kujala; granddaughter, Talina Davis; and special friend, Wendell Nelson. She is survived by her children, Ron (Sherilu) Davis, Betty (Ed) Kunkel, Allen Davis, and Linda (Jamie) Kapp; as well as, 12 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren.
Donations is Bea’s name may be made to the Centerville Senior Citizen’s Center or a charity of the donor’s choice. Condolences for the family may be shared online at www.OConnorFuneralHome.com.
Author: Staff
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