Died peacefully at home surrounded by her family on March 16, 2013 from complications of
renal cancer. Helen was born on December 6, 1926 in Tacoma, WA to Louis and Anna Stoffer.
She graduated from Centralia High School in 1944 and from Central Washington University
with a degree in education. She married Herbert Yeomans “Bert” Bell Jr. on June 6, 1949 in
Ellensburg, WA on the day that he graduated from Central Washington University. Bert and
Helen were married for 58 years until his death in 2007.
Helen taught first grade in the Highline School District before staying home to take care of her
family. She resumed her teaching career in 1966 at Little Rock Elementary School for 2 years.
She then taught kindergarten for two years at South Bay Elementary before transferring to
Lacey Elementary where she taught until her retirement in 1987. Helen was a lifelong learner.
She loved to read, do crossword puzzles and volunteered for over 20 years with Friends of
Tumwater Timberland Library. She enjoyed painting, drawing and other creative pursuits. She
loved adventure and traveled extensively with her husband Bert. After he died she continued to
travel and went to Hawaii, Peru and Egypt with other members of her family. Many people
remember the photo on her Christmas card of her riding a camel.
Helen is survived by her children, Teresa (Robert) Rummel, Christine Bell (Hartmut
Walravens), William (Crystal) Bell, Margaret (Chuck) Hill and Herbert Y. Bell III (Tim
DeClue). She has seven grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her brother Louis Stoffer of Centralia.
There will be a private interment at Mountain View Cemetery in Centralia and a memorial service at Mills and Mills Funeral Home, 5725 Littlerock Road SW, Tumwater, at 2:00 pm on Saturday March 23, 2013.
Helen wished for remembrances to be made to Friends of Tumwater Timberland Library.
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