David Bell, 79, of Sheridan, WY died Friday, September 5, 2014, in Billings, MT.
David was born May 31, 1935 in Malta, MT to Hazel Harden and Tennial Miles Bell. He attended 1st and 2nd grade in Medical Lake Washington and grades 3 to 12 in Glasgow, Montana. At 15, he became an Amateur Radio Member (HAM) and then taught his mother to be a Ham Radio operator. They enjoyed this hobby for many years. At 17, he joined the Naval Reserve. On January 5, 1957, he married Myrna Lou Wesen in Glasgow MT and they moved to Pipestone, MN. The two were there for 6 month and then moved to Williston, ND. On June 30, 1957, David attended Ogden School of Electronics in California where he earned his first class engineers license. After obtaining his engineers license, he worked for KEYZ radio station in Williston, ND. At 22, he left the Naval Reserve and joined the Army National Guard. In 1961, he went to work for Montana Dakota Utilities and moved to Bismarck, ND. He was in Bismarck for a short period before his National Guard Unit was activated and transferred to Ft Riley, KS. For the next seven months he worked for Atomic Demolitions. Upon leaving the Army, he moved back to Williston to work again with MDU. In 1963, he was transferred to Worland, WY. While there, he served 3 years on the City Council, assisted in the radio station, KWOR, and enjoyed hunting and fishing. He remained in Worland until being transferred to Sheridan, WY in 1988. He retired from MDU in 1994. After retirement, David and his wife became Snow Birds, spending winters on the west coast, Arizona and Texas.
David is survived by his wife, Myrna Bell, his children: Barbara Barthel of Sheridan, Cindy Hackett (Robert) of Canton, SD, Michael Bell (Amber) of Cheyenne, WY, and Jeffery Bell (Jackie) of Billings, MT, his brother Walter Bell of Glasgow, MT, his sister Beth McNeilly of Dickinson, ND, his grandchildren: Amanda, Ashley, Ethan, and Megan, and several nieces and nephews.
Memorial service will be 11:00am on Wednesday (Sept. 10th) from Trinity Lutheran Church with Pastor Phil Wold officiating. Memorials will benefit Trinity Lutheran Church. Inurnment will be in the Church columbarium. Arrangements are with Champion Ferries Funeral Home.