E 17-19 Record pension expense, funding, and gains and losses; determine account balances

Beale Management has a noncontributory, defined benefit pension plan. On December 31, 2011 (the end of Beale's fiscal year), the following pension-related data were available:

Projected Benefit Obligation ($in millions)
Balance, January 1, 2011 $480
Service cost 82
Interest cost, discount rate, 5% 24
Gain due to changes in actuarial assumptions in 2011 (10)
Pension benefits paid (40)
Balance, December 31, 2011 $536
Plant Assets Balance, January 1, 2011 $500
Actual return on plan assets 40
(Expected return on plan assets, $45)
Cash Contributions 70
Pension benefits paid (40)
Balance, December 31, 2011 $570

January 1, 2011, balances:
Pension asset $20
Prior service cost-AOCI (amortization $8 per year) 48
Net gain-AOCI (any amortization over 15 years) 80

Required:
1. Prepare the 2011 journal entry to record pension expense.
2. Prepare the journal entry(s) to record any 2011 gains and losses.
3. Prepare the 2011 journal entries to record the contribution to plan assets and benefit payments to retirees.
4. Determine the balances at December 31, 2011, in the PBO, plan assets, the net gain–AOCI, and prior service cost–AOCI and show how the balances changed during 2011. [Hint: You might find T-accounts useful.]
5. What amount will Beale report in its 2011 balance sheet as a net pension asset or net pension liability for the funded status of the plan?