Carl Wilford “Bill” Bell, age 93, passed away on May 11th, 2018 at Valley View Nursing Home in Glasgow, Montana. Visitation will be on Wednesday May 16th at 6 PM at Bell Mortuary.. Bill’s service will be held at Bell Mortuary in Glasgow on May 17th at 11 AM. Interment will be at the Highland Cemetery followed by a reception and lunch at the VFW.
Bill was born in San Bernardino, California on August 25th, 1924 to Wilford and Kathryn Bell. Bill was raised in Malta. He was involved in band, sports, and community activities. He was proud to be a Malta Mustang. After graduating he enlisted in the United States Navy and served in World War II on the USS Suwannee. Prior to his deployment he married Dorothy Larson in Everett, Washington and post war he went to Mortuary Science School in St. Louis, Missouri, returning to Malta to work with his father until 1957. Bill and Dorothy moved their family of six children to Glasgow and Bell Mortuary began. He was active in the Congregational Church, a member of the Masonic Lodge, DeMolay, Shriners, American Legion Post 41, and the VFW. He was commander of the National Guard in Malta for several years. Bill was a patriot. He was president of the Montana Chamber of Commerce and the Montana Aeronautics Commission. He was a welder, stone mason, pilot, carpenter, avid hunter, vocalist, actor, farmer, and boat enthusiast.
Bill was preceded in death by his wife of seventy-three years, Dorothy, his parents and his sister Betty Smith, sons-in-law Marvin Edwards and Scott Alexander, and grandson Daniel Cunneen. Bill was extremely proud and honored to have the wonderful family that he and Dorothy created. Their beautiful children are Cherie Edwards of Chinook, Steve Bell (Vickie) of Glasgow, Kathy Sather (Terry) of Billings, Kari Wiens (Richard) of Glasgow, Kent Bell (Kathy) of Glasgow, and Jenny Cunneen (Mick) of Billings.
He is also survived by grandchildren Camia Savage, Tyler Edwards, Eric Edwards, Sean Edwards, Nicole Gleason, Lisa Ball, Jenna Marsalek, April Sather, Amber Sather, Ben Sather, Christopher Wiens, Nathan Wiens, Jonathan Wiens, SaraAnn Rasmusan, Brian Bell, Katie Maehl, Brad Bell, Seth Cunneen, Kara Cunneen, Tessa Berl, and 43 great-grandchildren.