Obituary: Bell, Helen Adele
Age 87
BELL,
Helen Adele
(Age 87)
Helen Bell of Spokane, WA, returned to her Heavenly Father on April 1, 2012, after a long struggle with heart disease.
She was born on October 23, 1924, in Weare, NH to Richmond H. and Francis (Russell) Sargent.
The oldest of six children, Helen spent her childhood outside of Augusta, ME.
At age eleven, she assisted her mother in moving all of her younger siblings across the country to settle in Washington state, where her father had been assigned as the county agricultural agent in Wenatchee, and subsequently in Tonasket.
She met her future husband, Vernon L. Bell, at Tonasket High School where she graduated as valedictorian in 1942.
After Pearl Harbor, Vern joined the US Navy, which led to their wedding ceremony in Oceanside, CA, just before his deployment to the Pacific.
While her husband was away at war, she graduated from Kinman Business College in Spokane.
After the war, they lived in Denver, and then moved to work at the Hanford Project near Richland, WA.
In 1954, they moved to Spokane where Helen resided for the remainder of her life.
When her three children were of school age, Helen worked in Spokane for Mutual of New York for almost 15 years.
Helen is survived by her children, Dr. Gary Bell (Teresa) of Spokane, Karen Burnham (David) of Washougal, WA, and James Bell, of Spokane; her grandchildren, Jennifer, Angela, Rachel, Brian and Marcus; seven great-grandchildren; brother, Charles Sargent , and sisters, Betty Bowles and Dorothy Rath, and by two former daughter-in-laws, Bonnie Bell-Andersen and Debbie Bell.
She is also survived by three step-grandchildren and two step-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 49 years, Vernon in March 1993, as well as by two siblings, John Sargent and Mary Skow.
Helen had a life-long devotion to her Lord, Jesus Christ, and spent over 50 years as an active member of Audubon Park United Methodist Church.
Amongst her many interests were gardening, travel, crosswords, novels, and visiting with friends.
Her greatest joy came from her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Visitation for Helen Bell will be held on Thursday, April 5, 2012, between 10:00 am and 8:00 pm at the HAZEN & JAEGER FUNERAL HOME, 1306 N. Monroe, Spokane, WA.
Memorial services for Helen will be held on Friday, April 6, at 1:00 pm at Audubon Park United Methodist Church, 3908 N Driscoll Blvd., Spokane, WA 99205.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Audubon Park United Methodist Church.