Clifford Bell, 94, North Branch

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, January 21, 2003

Clifford Harold Bell, son of Theodore and Oline Bell, was born in Albert Lea, Dec. 14, 1909.

When he was 4 years old, the family moved to Trinity, Texas. In 1926 the family returned to Albert Lea. Then 17 years old, Clifford worked for a short time at Wedge Nursery. After he became 18 years old, he began working at Wilson & Co. Inc,, where he worked for many years and became proficient at many different jobs. He also owned and operated a portable feed mill grinding grains for feed and the farms in the area.

On July 14, 1940, he married Mildred Bakke of Albert Lea. On March 2, 1942, he was inducted into the U.S. Army where he trained troops for three years in Chemical War Service attached to the 3rd Air Force. Then he spent a year in England as the chemical officer with the United States Strategic Bombing Survey. He remained there until late 1945 with the rank of staff sergeant. He was a member of Post 151 of the American Legion and a lifetime member of Post 447 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Albert Lea. Returning from the service, he was again employed at Wilson & Co. In 1946 he and his wife purchased a farm near Myrtle, which they farmed while continuing to work at Wilson’s.

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In 1954 the couple, along with 2-year-old daughter, Kathryn Joan, moved to Edson, Alberta, Canada, after selling the farm at Myrtle. From the spring of 1954 until the spring of 1962 they owned and operated a lumber, building supply, hardware, and paint business in Edson. Daughter Janice Kay became a member of the family that same year. In 1962 the couple sold their business and returned to Minnesota, having purchased a farm near Alden. For the most part the farmland was rented out while Clifford again returned to work at Wilson & Co. Upon retiring from Wilson’s in 1974, he purchased farm and timber land near Finlayson, Minn., where he built their retirement home. There he maintained a large lawn area around the buildings and had a large garden each year, which yielded profusely. He loved the out-of-doors, the woods, the birds and creatures of field and forest, and pet dogs and cats. Above all he was a dedicated and devoted husband and father, always putting their needs and wants above his own.

After 17.5 years when keeping yard and garden and inevitable upkeep on house and shop became burdensome, the couple sold the property and moved to an apartment in Moose Lake and later to a duplex in Sandstone, where he could still have a small garden and be close to the land.

A lifelong member of the Lutheran Church, he was baptized at First Lutheran Church in Albert Lea on Jan. 10, 1910, and confirmed on July 22, 1923, at Onalaska, Texas, by a traveling Lutheran missionary pastor, Rev J. B. Reinertsen. He held membership in Albert Lea, Myrtle, Edson (Canada), Alden, and since 1975, at Peace Lutheran Church at Finlayson. Through the years he served his church in various capacities: every member canvas (Albert Lea), president of men’s organizations (Myrtle), church organizer and president of Grace Lutheran in Edson, Alberta, Canada, and trustee at Peace in Finlayson to name a few.

Clifford was preceded in death by his father in 1955; his mother in 1964; daughter, Janice, in 1990; brothers: Joseph, Theodore, Jr., and Ken; and sisters: Gladys, Thelma, Cecelia, Gertrude, Anna, and Olive.

He is survived by his wife, Mildred of Chisago City; daughter, Kathryn Bell of North Branch; brother, Henry (Arvilla) Bell of Florida; sisters: Beatrice Winjum and Maurine Turvold of Albert Lea, and Edith (Harry) Meyer of Pomeroy, Iowa; two grandchildren:. Katrina Blouin and Angela Sikel; one great-granddaughter; one great-grandson; and many nieces, nephews and friends.

Clifford died on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2003 at the Green Acres Nursing Home in North Branch. He was 94.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 22, at 2 p.m. at Peace Lutheran Church in Finlayson with the Rev. Matthew Vrudney officiating. Visitation will be held two hours prior to the services at the church. Interment will be held at the Peace Lutheran Cemetery in Finlayson.

Memorials preferred in lieu of flowers.

Arrangements by Hansen-Mankie Funeral Home of Sandstone.