Beatrice "Bea" Grandpre, 74, of Aberdeen, SD and formerly of Mellette, SD, died Thursday, May 20, 2010 at Avera St. Lukes Hospital in Aberdeen.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. on Monday, May 24, 2010 at All Saints Catholic Church in Mellette. Father Christopher Hughes will celebrate the mass.

Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery in Mellette. Visitation will be Sunday from 2-4:00 p.m. at Thelen Funeral Home and at the church starting at 6:30 p.m. with a rosary at 7:30 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorial directed to the American Heart Association or American Cancer Society. www.thelenfuneralhome.com

Bea was born September 12, 1935 in Loyalton, SD to Sid and Ethel (Downen) Barton. She graduated from Mellette High School. Bea married Virgil Grandpre November 21, 1953 at All Saints Church. Their daughter Brenda Ann was born August 27, 1956. They farmed and raised Angus cattle together for many years before retiring in 2001 and moving to Aberdeen. They helped many young farmers and ranchers get started farming and started in the cattle business.

She was a life member of the American Legion Auxiliary, VFW Auxiliary, 40 & 8 Le Femmes, SD Firefighters Auxiliary Treasurer and All Saints Church.

Bea enjoyed spending time with her family and many friends.

Bea is survived by many nieces and nephews who were very special to her and her sister Edith Gange, her brother-in-law Fred Stern and a sister-in-law Verona Bertsch.

She was preceded in death by her husband Virgil, her daughter Brenda, her parents, her brothers: Jim and Jesse Barton, her sisters: Opal Stern, Bessie Baasch and Edna Barton. She was also preceded in death by Ernest and Anna Grandpre and a special nephew Donnie Gange.