Beatrice Ione Peterson, 80, died Dec. 8, 2003, on Whidbey Island.

She was born Sept. 9, 1923, to Emil and Jennie Ersko in Deer River, Minn. She grew up and graduated from high school in Tower, Minn. She went to the West Coast in 1943 and began her career with Northern Pacific Railroad. She retired after 25 years. She opened Bea’s Launderette on Whidbey Island and after many years turned to her new loves, real estate and her bed-and-breakfast, B’s Getaway.

She leaves a daughter, Donna Kay Peterson of Everett; many nieces, nephews and other family members in Florida and Minnesota; and many cherished friends.