Elvira Bell

Elvira Bell, a Powell Valley native and 34-year resident of Byron, died
Saturday, Aug. 23 at Deaconess Hospital in Billings, Mont. She was
83.
Born on May 27, 1925, she was the second of 12 children of Victoria and
Frank Cruz, homesteaders and long-time farmers north of Powell.

She married Don L. Bell in 1958 and had three daughters, Donna Bell of
Billings, Victoria Abbott of Ucross and Bernadette Bell of Albuquerque,
N.M. Don died in 2005.

Family gatherings and gardening gave her great joy for many years.
Elvira was a natural caregiver and conversationalist. Humbly guided by
her Christian faith, she dutifully visited the elderly and sick all her
life, and her bilingual gift bridged worlds for those that spoke only
Spanish. Independent and brave to the end her family honors a diverse
woman of high integrity with a passion for caring.


She was preceded in death by her husband of 50 years, Don Bell, and is
survived by her daughters Donna, Victoria and Bernadette; her
grandchildren, Sarah Mauthe of Portland, Ore., (daughter of Donna) and
Katie Wilhelm (daughter of Vickie). Her surviving siblings include
Dixie Velasquez and husband Art of Garden Grove, Calif.; Pete Cruz of
Fremont, Calif.; Tomasa Macias and husband Lupe of San Lorenzo, Calif.;
Julia Mascarenas and husband Edward of Las Cruces, N.M.; Tim Cruz and
wife Marge of Powell, and Martin Cruz of Salt Lake City, Utah;
sisters-in-law Avelina Cruz and Sally Cruz, both of Powell; and
numerous nieces and nephews whom she loved dearly.

A vigil service is planned for Tuesday, Aug. 26 at 7 p.m. at St.
Barbara's Catholic Church. A funeral Mass, officiated by Father Glenn,
will be celebrated at St. Barbara's on Wednesday, Aug. 27 at 11:30 a.m.
Burial will be in the Byron Cemetery.