Marjorie Ruth Bell

Visitation Sunday, October 22, 2006, After 3 PM Ohde Funeral Home Coon Rapids, Iowa

Funeral Service Monday, October 23, 2006, 10:30 AM First United Methodist Church Coon Rapids, Iowa

Interment Highland Township Cemetery Rural Bayard, Iowa

   Marjorie Ruth, daughter of Peter E. and Lucy (Miles) Johnson, was born May 18, 1932, on the family farm near Bayard in Guthrie County, Iowa. She attended country school near her home and graduated from Bayard High School in 1949. Marj then worked as a secretary at Garst Seed Company in Coon Rapids.    On February 18, 1951, Marjorie was united in marriage with Billie J. Bell at Audubon. Three children were born to this union. The family made their home in Coon Rapids. Bill served with the U.S. Army from 1954 to 1956 and Marj was able stay with him while he served at Fort Knox, Kentucky. After Bill completed his military obligation, the family returned to Coon Rapids where Marj continued her work with Garst. She also worked for the Coon Rapids Enterprise for 26 years and as a secretary for the Coon Rapids-Bayard Middle School until her retirement in 1999.    Marj was a member of the First United Methodist Church and was active in the womens circles and with the apple dumpling gang. She was also a member of the T.T.T. group, Past Noble Grands, the Rebekah Lodge and the Red Hat Club. For several years, Marj was a Mary Kay consultant and served as the secretary for the Carroll County Fair. She enjoyed camping, reading, antiquing, gardening, cooking and baking.    Following Bills death on August 17, 1999, Marj continued to reside at their home in Coon Rapids. In 2004, Marj became a resident of Wesley Acres in Des Moines, Iowa where she died Friday, October 20, 2006, following a four-year battle with Alzheimers disease. She was 74 years, 5 months and 2 days of age.    Marjorie was preceded in death by her parents; husband; two brothers Forest and Earl Johnson; a sister Margaret Johnson; and four brothers-in-law: Paul Nielsen; Gary Bell; Max Tuel and wife Darlene and Wendell Henning.    She is survived by three children: Denise and husband Rhett Faaborg of Nevada; Dan Bell of Des Moines; and Brad Bell and friend Anna of Coon Rapids; two grandchildren: Tara and husband Chad Andersen of Shawnee, KS, and Soren Faaborg and wife Amy of Ames; a great-granddaughter Chloe Andersen; a sister Helen Nielsen of Coon Rapids; four sisters-in-law: Marguerite Johnson of Des Moines; Juanita Peterson of Coon Rapids; Jeannette Henning and LeAnn Bane, both of Jefferson; nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.