Elvira “Vera” Bell, a Powell Valley native and 34-year resident of Byron, died Aug. 23, 2008, at the Billings Clinic.


Born on May 27, 1925, she was the second of 12 children born to Victoria and Frank Cruz, homesteaders and long-time farmers north of Powell.


She married Don L. Bell (1912-2005) in 1958 and had three daughters, Donna Bell of Billings; Victoria Abbott of Ucross and Bernadette Bell of Albuquerque, N.M. She and Don were married for 50 years.


Family gatherings and gardening gave her great joy for many years. Vera 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.


Vera’s daughters express sincere gratitude toward her extended family of neighbors and friends in Byron who opened their hearts and homes and cared.


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


A vigil service was held Tuesday evening at 7 p.m. at St. Barbara’s Catholic Church. A funeral Mass, officiated by Father Glen Szczechowski, was celebrated on Wednesday, August 27, 2008. Burial followed in the Byron cemetery north of Byron.