Beatrice Burns | |
|---|---|
 | |
| First Lady of Hawaii | |
| In role December 3, 1962 – December 2, 1974 | |
| Governor | John A. Burns |
| Preceded by | Nancy Quinn |
| Succeeded by | Jean Ariyoshi |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Beatrice Majors Van Vleet February 20, 1906 Sumpter, Oregon, U.S. |
| Died | February 28, 1988 (aged 82) Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S. |
| Spouse |
John A. Burns
(m. 1931; died 1975) |
| Children | 4 |
Beatrice Majors Van Vleet Burns (February 2, 1906 – February 28, 1988) was the First Lady of Hawaii for three terms. Born in Oregon and raised in numerous states, she became a registered nurse, joined the United States Army Nurse Corps, and moved to Hawaii. She met Hawaii's future governor John A. Burns during a picnic at Hanauma Bay, when he was a college student. Together they had four children, one of whom was born premature and died when she was struck by poliomyelitis. She never fully recovered from her paralysis, but lived a full life as a wife and mother. While First Lady of Hawaii, she restored the governor's residence of Washington Place.