BENNINGTON -- Beatrice Clara “Bea” (Palmer) Boutin, 91, beloved wife of Leon J. Boutin, peacefully passed into the loving arms of Jesus on Monday, June 19, 2006, at Crescent Manor Nursing Home.Born in Pawlet, April 2, 1915, she was the daughter of the late Oscar and Georgianna (Brooks) Palmer.Bea was raised in South Wallingford and graduated from Mount Saint Joseph High School in Rutland, and later from DeGoesbriand School of Nursing in Burlington.After graduating from nursing school, she was employed as a registered nurse in the private practice of Dr. Miller in Wallingford. Early in 1938, while working at Putnam Memorial Hospital in Bennington, her courtship with Leon began. In 1939 she started a new position at Albany Medical Center in Albany, N.Y. Bea transferred during World War II to a VA hospital in New York City, where after the war she rekindled her relationship with Leon.In 1945, as per the words of Leon, “with her sincerity and homespun personality, he knew she was the one.” They were married by Father Thomas Connors at Saint Patrick’s Church in Wallingford on Jan. 5, 1946.Early in their marriage, Bea and her husband owned and operated seasonal cabins and a fruit stand in Bennington on Route 7, “Bennington Flats.” They later moved down the road and established Leon’s Knotty Pine Motel, selling and retiring in 1972 to the “LJB Ranch” in Pownal.Bea had a very special talent for sewing and decorating. She took pride in her flowers, window boxes and in creating a distinguished and cozy atmosphere in each room at the motel.While the family was young, she and Leon loved to travel and the whole family would often venture on camping trips, piling the family and dog into the station wagon with the pop-up camper in tow.After retirement she loved to spend time in Palm Meadow, Fla., with Leon and dear friends; they returned to Vermont for the summer months to enjoy their family and home in Pownal. While in Florida, Bea and her husband were volunteers at local hospitals and churches.She had a love for animals, especially horses and dogs. She was a parishioner of Sacred Heart Saint Francis de Sales Church in Bennington.She leaves behind her husband and true life partner of 61 years, Leon, and their children: Bernadette Boutin Carbin and Richard of Saratoga Springs, N.Y., Leona D’Agnes and Thomas of Kailua, Hawaii, James Boutin and Laura of Pownal, Joseph Boutin and Lene of Sunderland, and Mary Willette and Edward of Bennington; her brother, William Brooks and Rita of Wallingford; 13 grandchildren, six great-grandchildren; a brother-in-law, Louis and Doris of Bennington; also several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her sister and brother-in-law, Mary Esther and Richard Fleming, and a half-brother, Parley Palmer.The family would like to thank the staff at Crescent Manor for the care and compassion they gave Bea and their support to family, especially Leon.She will be greatly missed by all those who were privileged to know her. She was a loving and caring spouse, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother and great-grandmother, who took great joy and interest in her family.The funeral will be held from the Mahar & Son Funeral Home Friday, June 23, 2006, with a prayer at 9:30 a.m. and from Sacred Heart Saint Francis de Sales Church at 10 a.m., where the Mass of resurrection will be offered.The burial will take place in the family lot in Park Lawn Cemetery.Friends may call at the Mahar & Son Funeral Home on Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. when the family will be in attendance.In lieu of flowers, those wishing to remember Bea may make a memorial contribution in her name to The School of Sacred Heart St. Francis de Sales through the office of the Mahar & Son Funeral Home, 628 Main St., Bennington, VT 05201.