Bea Lussier was born and raised on a dairy farm in Walden, Vermont, the next to youngest of 16 children. She married Laurent Lussier, a logger, in 1960. In 1964, the Lussiers moved to Berkshire, where they raised 5 children while Laurent worked in the woods. In 1983, Bea and Laurent invested in a small sawmill. In 1992 it was expanded to handle 3 MBF per year. Bea is a full partner in the mill in addition to being the Chief Financial Officer, Public Relations director, Yard Supervisor, Log Scaler and Fork-lift Operator.
In addition to her work at the mill, mothering her children and doting on 11 grandchildren, Bea is very active in her community. Among her projects in and around Berkshire have been raising donations for the Heart Fund (from 1974 to 1988), serving as a school board director for 9 years, and raising funds for a local school playground and gazebo. Bea takes in abandoned wildlife for local game wardens, and has organized and played in two women's softball leagues. Bea is a member of "Health Seekers," a local homeopath group seeking alternative health and healing methods.
Bea still finds time for hobbies. She is proficient gardener with a special love for flowers, and enjoys sewing. Recently Bea discovered a new passion; the game of golf which she pursues when time allows.
In 1998, Bea decided that the public in general, and school children in particular needed accurate information on the logging and sawmill industry. With her own time and resources, she directed and produced the video, "Hey, Kids, Trees are Good." Bea had help from the family as she incorporated video footage from the woods with the shots of softwood dimension lumber and siding that her family mill produces. Some of her clients found themselves on film as Bea took pictures of finished furniture, novelties, barns, and even sawdust and mulch that come from wood products. The Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation and Jeremy Adams assisted her with the script and editing suggestions to polish the video for release. Since it has been available, orders have poured in from Vermont and the region to buy "Hey, Kids, Trees Are Good."