Bertha “Bea” Mary McBurney , 83

Bertha McBurney passed away on Monday Feb. 16, 2026.

Bertha was born to Robert and Beryle Hewitt in Anaconda Montana on Dec. 1, 1942. She grew up in Plentywood and attended school there alongside her six brothers: LeRoy, Frank, Kenneth, Samuel, Wayne and Rick.

Bea, as she preferred to be called, was a busy young girl who sang in the Rainbow Church Choir. She was active in Brownies and Girl Scouts, TNT-Pep Club, and enjoyed bowling. In the 1970s, she played slow- pitch softball as a pitcher in the Kalispell Women’s Softball League for the Outlaw Inn.

Bea and Lennard met and started dating on Jan. 24, 1958, and were married on Feb. 6, 1960. They moved to Kalispell and welcomed their first daughter, Virginia, in 1960, and their second daughter, Sherie, in 1963. Later in life, they moved to Columbia Falls to be closer to their grandchildren.

Mac and Bea, as they were affectionately known, dedicated their lives to their children and grandchildren. They loved celebrating every occasion possible with their many friends and family. Bea was a natural hostess and party planner who loved having friends over and doting on them. 

From 1985 through 1994, Bea owned a successful and popular women’s clothing store in the Gateway West Mall called, The Queen “B”.  She also worked seasonally for Snowline Tree Company and served as a supervisor during the last seven years that she worked there. Later, she worked part-time for Hardee’s, often joking that her paychecks were her “mad money.” Bea eventually went on to work at the Plum Tree Day Care in Columbia Falls, where she lovingly cared for her great grandsons Braxton, Jayce and Kalob. 

Bea took pride in always looking her best. She was impeccably put together, with her love of bright colors and her big matching earrings to go along with her perfect bouffant- truly a classy lady.

Grandma always tucked a $10 bill into a sandwich bag for birthdays and holidays so she could write on it, “With all Our Love, Grandma & Grandpa.”

Bea loved traveling back and forth to Havre to visit her parents and brothers and she often brought her grandkids along. 

Mac and Bea grew their family from two daughters to eight grandchildren and twenty great-grandchildren. They were incredibly proud of this legacy, which they credited to their deep love for one another. Through old albums, we discovered love letters from Grandpa to Grandma-beautifully written poems that told the story of how their love began. They were blessed to find each other. 

Bea was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Beryle Hewitt; her brothers LeRoy, Samuel, and Frank; her daughter, Sherie Shewalter; and her great-grandson, Kalob Connors.

She is survived by her beloved husband, Lennard “Mac” McBurney; her daughter, Virginia McBurney; her brothers Kenneth Hewitt, Wayne Hewitt and Rick Hewitt; her grandkids Jeni Smith, Ronda Vandevanter, Levi Shewalter, Brandy Klein, Michelle Williams, Tony Shewalter; as well as many great- grandkids, cousins, nieces and nephews. Last, but not least, her feisty and protective puppy, Buddy.