Bertha Heberlein Bryan

Bertha “Bea” Heberlein Bryan, 89, died June 3, 2004, at Victorian Cottage Adult Family Home, Coupeville. Bea was born Nov. 22, 1914, in Streeter, Kidder County, N.D., the daughter of Gottlieb and Christina (Job) Mueller.

She was educated in North Dakota and in Sheridan, Wyo., where she graduated as a registered nurse. Following graduation, she took post-graduate courses in psychiatry, pediatrics, intensive care and coronary care in Wyoming and later in Colorado and Seattle. She worked in white uniform for 43 years in all fields of nursing including six years during World War II in the VA hospital in Lexington, Ky. At the conclusion of the war she returned to Seattle and public health duty.

Bea married Frederick ‘Freddy’ Heberlein in 1961 in Seattle. A happy, although childless marriage resulted in extensive travels throughout the U.S., Japan, Mexico and Canada. Mutual retirements brought them to Whidbey Island in 1978, where they settled in Greenbank at Lagoon Point. Together, they enjoyed both island living and civic volunteering until Freddy’s death in November of 1994.

In June of 1996, Bea married William T. “Bill” Bryan, who was serving as pastor of the Coupeville Community Bible Church.

Bea is survived by her husband, Bill Bryan of Coupeville; two sisters, Emma Milford of Montgomery Village, Md., and Esther L. McWilliams of Sheridan, Wyo., and one brother, Andy Mueller of Redway, Calif. Fifteen nieces and eight nephews plus some very special grandnieces and grandnephews as well as numerous friends, whom she considered to be her extended family, also survive.

A memorial service will be held at San de Fuca Chapel Thursday, June 10, at 2 p.m., with Pastor Cliff Horr officiating. Cremation was held with private family inurnment to follow at a later date. Memorials may be made in Bea’s name to your favorite charity. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Burley Funeral Chapel, Oak Harbor.