Charles E Bell

Early on the morning of November 12, 1931, Charles E. Bell was born in Jackson Hole, Wyoming and early on the morning of June 7, 2023 in Salt Lake City, Utah he moved into eternity.

Charles was born Charles Eugene Schofield, but following his parents’ divorce, was adopted by his stepfather Vern A. Bell who married his mother Margaret Olive Bell.

His grandparents homesteaded in Jackson Hole in the early 1900’s. He experienced life in the shadow of the Tetons where his family lived in Grand Teton National Park where his stepfather was a Park Ranger. He also lived in their family home next to the ski lift on Snow King Mountain. Some of his school years were also spent in Oakley, Idaho where he graduated from elementary school. Following elementary school, the family moved back to Jackson Hole.

While in high school Charles played on the football, basketball, and baseball teams. He enjoyed the sports and especially traveling with the teams throughout western Wyoming. After high school graduation he played basketball for Ricks College.

During the summers he worked as a cowboy on the family guest ranch, the Granit Ranch. He loved his time working in the beautiful, serene mountains, where he met guests from all over the country who came to stay at the ranch.

After being drafted into the Marine Corps during his freshman year at Ricks College, he returned to Jackson Hole where he began dating the love of his life, Thora May. Soon after they were engaged. He then left for basic training and Thora went to BYU. On September 2, 1952, they were married in the Logan Temple of  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. On the same day his mother and stepfather were sealed in the Logan Temple.

Life then took Charles and Thora to California where he served in the Marine Corps at Camp Pendleton. Following his release from active duty, they moved back to Jackson Hole. After a few months, he found work as a line man for Mountain States Telephone and Telegraph Company. They purchased a mobile home and traveled the state of Wyoming living in a number of towns while he installed telephone lines. It was an adventure.

After a couple of years “stringing lines”, he transferred into the business office of the company in Rock Springs Wyoming. His career then took them to Rawlins Wyoming, Laramie Wyoming and finally to Salt Lake City, Utah where they stayed. They loved their friends and neighbors in their Canyon Rim Neighborhood.

Over the years the family grew to seven, Charles and Thora, Kenneth, Robert, Diane, LeAnn and Kathryn.

Charles was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints serving in many callings including Bishop, High Councilor, member of the Stake Mission Presidency and Church Service Missionary. His covenants and commitments to his Heavenly Father were supremely important to him. He often expressed his gratitude for his eternal marriage to Thora and is now happily reunited with her.

He loved family history work and would discuss his ancestral lines with family, friends and strangers alike. During his life he did the temple work for hundreds of this Bell family, Schofield family, Bassett family and Rutherford family ancestors. He also helped others with their family history work serving as a missionary for nearly fifteen years at the Church Family History Library.

He is preceded in death by his wife Thora, his parents Vern and Margaret, his sister Betty Early, his children; Robert, Diane and Kathryn Jacobsen (Russ) and daughter-in-law Melinda (Kenneth).

He is survived by his son Kenneth Bell (Pat) and daughter LeAnn Luczak (Steve), seven grandchildren and seventeen great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be at the Rosecrest 2nd Ward Building, 3101 South 2300 East, Salt Lake City, Utah 84109, Thursday, June 15, at 11 AM

A viewing will precede the service from 9:30 – 10:30 AM

Internment will be at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park, 3401 South Highland Dr. Millcreek, Utah 84106