Service Information
Alice Bell, age 90, of Hutchinson passed away Thursday, December 7, 2017, at Harmony River Living Center in Hutchinson.
Memorial Service will be Tuesday, December 12, 2017, 2:30 P.M. at the Dobratz-Hantge Funeral Chapel in Hutchinson.
Fellowship with cake and coffee following the service.
Obituary
Alice Ann Bell was born on November 8, 1927, in West Lake Lillian Township. She was baptized in the Methodist Church in Olivia, Minnesota. She attended school at District 105, which was located on the family farm. Many of Alice’s cousins attended school here also. Alice attended Sunday School and was confirmed in 1941 at First Lutheran Church in Lake Lillian. Everyone worked hard on the farm and had their jobs to do. But there were lots of fun times too. Neighbors would have house parties with music and dancing. They would play cards and always had lots to eat. Homemade ice cream was a special treat and in the winter they would go for sleigh rides and visit friends and family.
Alice graduated from eighth grade and then did housework and babysat for people, besides working hard at home. Alice met her husband-to-be in 1945, when cousins and friends gathered together on Sunday afternoons to have a ballgame in the cow pasture. On February 4, 1948, Alice married Basil Bell at First Lutheran Church in Lake Lillian, by Reverend A.D. Freden. It was a minus 22 degrees! It was to be a private ceremony with only their sponsors present, John Bell and Maylond Harding, but the pastor invited the ladies aid, who was meeting in the church basement, to the wedding!
Basil and Alice moved several times, maybe 8-10! In 1960 they moved to a farm site by Hutchinson. The kids called it the “Ponderosa”! They paid $10 a month rent. There was no running water so that meant an “outhouse”! Basil spiffed it all up, using cardboard for insulation and dug a trench for an electric cord and installed an electric heater! After the improvements the landlord raised the rent to $25! They lived here for ten years. The kids loved the country!
In 1970 they bought a house in Hutchinson. Alice was employed at Green Giant, a hardware store and worked seventeen years at 3M, retiring in 1985. Alice was involved in a holdup at the hardware store in Cedar Mills, Minnesota. In 1967, Alice, her boss and another employee were put on the floor and tied up. Luckily, the 6 o’clock whistle blew and scared the robbers away. No one was hurt.
Alice enjoyed flower gardening, cooking and baking. She cherished the time she spent with her family, especially her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Alice passed away on Thursday, December 7, 2017, at Harmony River Living Center in Hutchinson at the age of 90 years.
Blessed be her memory.
Alice is survived by her:
Children, Wes Bell and his wife, Pam of Stewart, MN,
Jeff Bell and his wife, Lou of FL, and
Bonnie Bell of Edina, MN;
Grandchildren, Angie Glieden and her husband, Dave of Hutchinson, MN, Ashley Bell of Hutchinson, MN, and Jason Bell and his wife, Miranda of KS;
Great-Grandchildren, Gavin Bell, Shaelynn Glieden, Owen Glieden, Samuel Bell, and Nathan Bell;
Many Nieces, Nephews, other relatives and friends.
Alice was preceded in death by her Parents, Charles and Frieda Harding; Husband, Basil Bell; Son, Gary Bell; and Brothers and Sisters.
Marilyn Christensen Denler says
Alice and Basil were good neighbors to my folks on Graham St. Later Alice was also our good neighbor. Julian was happy to help her plant her flowers in the spring. When I’d ask her how her day was going, she’d laugh and say “ I never met a chair I didn’t like” . Alice will be missed by those of us who were fortunate to know her as a friend. Julian and I sympathize with you, and may your memories bring you comfort . May God’s love give you peace.