Beatrice G. Soto was born on a ranch in Heber, California on December 23, 1919 to Victor Galvez and Mariana Reyna de Galvez. She often reminisced about her childhood years spent in Porterville, CA surrounded by aunts, uncles and many cousins. Later the family relocated to the Imperial Valley and settled in Brawley where she attended school and met the love of her life, Emil M. Soto. They eloped when she was 16 and he was 18 and they moved to Los Angeles where Emil began working in the grocery business. While in Los Angeles they were blessed with their first child, a baby boy they named Oscar.

They eventually returned to the Imperial Valley where they began saving money to start their own grocery store and eventually had two stores in Brawley. In between opening the two stores they had two more children (Victoria & Emily) and Emil was drafted into the Army. This took a toll on the business and eventually they decided to close up and follow their friends and relatives who were moving to Blythe where job opportunities were plentiful.

Shortly after arriving in Blythe the third daughter was born (Alicia). Emil went to work as a foreman for Fisher Farms and eventually working at Safeway and Claypool Company. Again, they started saving money to buy the land where they would eventually build the "Westside Market". Beatrice became the manager of the market and the kids learned to stock the shelves, wait on customers and do cleanup duty while Emil continued to find opportunities to sell produce to the markets in Los Angeles and to the local stores and restaurants. This went on for several years and finally when they thought that all was done, they had a major surprise - the fifth child was on it's way. Little Baby Beatrice (aka Quitty) arrived! By that time Oscar was already married, Vickie was in College in Los Angeles, Emily was a Junior in High School and Alicia was finishing elementary school.

Quitty became Emil's shadow. He took her to make the rounds with him when he was selling produce and taught her the tricks of the trade. Unfortunately, Beatrice was widowed in her mid-fifties and had to carry on the responsibilities of the business to support herself and her teenage daughter. She was a hardworking woman, who always had a smile on her face and a positive attitude and was a great role model for her children, grandchildren and the children of the barrio.

Beatrice was predeceased by her parents Victor & Mariana Galvez; her brothers Nicholas Munoz and Antonio Galvez; her sisters Amparo Estrada and Helen Fleming; her beloved infant son Daniel Soto; her beloved son Oscar Soto (Lily); and her grandson Victor Roman Palacio.

Beatrice is survived by her daughters Victoria (Pat), Emily (Harry), Alicia (Walt), and Quitty (Luis). She is survived by many grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews and cousins. She is beloved by all who knew her.

Rosary will be recited Friday, January 5, 2018 at 10am at Frye Chapel. Mass of the Christian burial will be held Friday at 11am at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church with Father Henry Licznerski, C.R. presiding. Burial will follow immediately at Palo Verde Cemetery with a reception at the St. Joan of Arc reception hall.