Beverley Lorraine Triplett, 78, died of cancer at her home in Kalispell on Saturday, March 19, 2005.

She was born Feb. 20, 1927, in Denver, Colo., and was raised in Montana, living in Miles City, Wheeler and Kalispell. She graduated from Flathead High School in 1944 and went on to graduate from nursing school at Montana State University in 1946.

She married her husband, Ed Triplett, on Feb. 22, 1946, in Great Falls. The marriage lasted 59 years, until her death.

Triplett worked as a labor and delivery nurse at Kalispell General Hospital from 1949 to 1957. With her husband, she was a co-owner and operator of Sterling Grocery in Kalispell from 1957 to 1964. The couple owned and operated Triplett's Meats in Kalispell from 1964 to 1976.

Triplett went on to be a manager of Weight Watchers in Kalispell, and to work as a nurse at the Wilderness Treatment Center near Marion.

From 1989 through 1999, the couple operated Old Wild West Adventures at the Big Mountain ski resort. She played guitar and performed with her husband, who played the fiddle and drove wagons and sleighs for visitors.

The couple told stories as part of their performances for visitors from all over the world.

Triplett was active in the Soroptimist Club for most life, participating in fund-raisers, charity events, and playing music with her husband at nursing homes and care facilities for more than 30 years.

She enjoyed crocheting, painting, writing poetry and knitting, in addition to playing music with her husband, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and entertaining friends and family.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Mayme Pierce and Jim Daly; a daughter, Beth Oetinger; a son, Tom Triplett; and two infant grandchildren.

She is survived by her husband, Ed Triplett; sons, Steven Triplett of Vancouver, Wash., and Bill Triplett of Kalispell; daughter, Danielle Prichard, of Kalispell; sisters, Velva Bruyer and Audrey Kiser, both of Kalispell; a brother, Jim Daly of The Woodlands, Texas; grandchildren, Michelle Bodecker of Anchorage, Alaska, Todd Harvey of Kent, Wash., Josh Harvey of Kent, Wash., and Kadin Prichard of Kalispell; great-grandchildren Trevor, Ashley and Jacob Harvey and Gavin Harvey; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.

Memorial Services will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, March 23, at the Buffalo Hill Funeral Home Chapel, with a potluck meal following immediately afterwards at the Stillwater Grange Hall. Please bring musical instruments to celebrate Beverley's life.

Memorial gifts should be directed to Kalispell Hospice.