Willard J. Bell, 82

Willie Bell, 82, passed away at home on Dec. 28, 2011, after a short battle with leukemia.

He was born in Boulder, Colo., to Jake and Annie Bell. He grew up on a farm. They had milk cows and chickens, and raised hay and wheat.

Willie went to a one-room schoolhouse through the eighth grade, then graduated from Boulder High School. After school, he worked at Western States Cutlery. He then joined the Navy, serving on a troop transport ship from 1948 through 1952. He sailed around the world twice. After his honorable discharge from the Navy, he went to work for a housing contractor building houses and laying floors. He also worked at the National Bureau of Standards in Boulder for many years.

He married Judy Howe in 1953 and had three children, Dave, Joyce and Gayla.

He moved his family to Montana in 1968 and worked for the Forest Service, then started at Anaconda Aluminum, where he retired in 1991.

 He enjoyed camping, fishing, boating, golf, going on drives and woodworking.

 He loved his family and loved being with them.  He enjoyed being with friends and had lots of them. Willie never lost his great sense of humor, and he had a contagious giggle and a great outlook on life.

Willie was a good man and lived by the golden rule.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one sister.

He is survived by his wife and best friend, Judy; his son, Dave and wife, Karen; daughter, Joyce and husband, Jim Head; daughter, Gayla and husband, Dave Weyrauch; four granddaughters, Lisa Bell, Amy Piilola, Tessa Weyrauch and Alicia Faber; and one great-granddaughter, Kassidy.

 He will be loved and missed by the family forever.

There will be a memorial service from 2 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 7 at the senior center in Columbia Falls.

A big thanks to Hospice for the care they provided.