Lester William Bell
Lester William Bell, 90 years of age and a longtime Montesano, Wash. resident, passed away on Oct. 20, 2017, at his home in Montesano. He was born on Aug. 20, 1927, to George and Ruby (Hart) Bell in Opal, S.D., where he resided until about the age of 10 when he moved to Grays Harbor. Lester attended Ocosta High School, graduating in 1947.
He enlisted in the U.S. Merchant Marines and U.S. Army and fought in the Korean War. After the military, he lived in Cosmopolis, Wash., later he and his family moved to Kake, Alaska for awhile, and in 1972 they settled in Montesano, Wash.
He married Shirley (Wilder) in 1955 and later married Celia (Jenks) in Montesano, Wash. on Jan. 13, 1972, she passed away in 2001.
Lester had worked for a few different logging companies, including Mayr Brother Logging and Weyerhaeuser; retiring in 1992.
When Lester lived in Cosmopolis he was a volunteer for their fire department. He was a lifetime member of the VFW and Moose and he was a huge supporter of Montesano Athletics.
Lester loved golfing, walking and going to the casino with friends. But most of all he loved coaching. He started coaching Montesano Girls Softball in 1974. He also coached baseball, wrestling and JV football. Even after he stopped coaching, he still went to as many of the Monte sporting events that he could. He even drove up to the Tacoma Dome to watch Monte football teams play whenever they went up.
His survivors include sons Scott Bell, Jeff Bell, David Bell and Bruce Jones; daughters Jennifer Henslee and Cheryl Eaton; brothers Art Bell, George Bell and Bob Bell; sister Florence Edwards, 12 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren and seven great-great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; son Rob Bell and sisters Myrtle Bessinger and Emma Lou Newman.
A celebration of his life will be held from 12:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2017, at the Montesano Moose Lodge, with Pastor Marc Rice officiating.
Please take a few moments to record your thoughts for the family by signing the on-line register at www.colemanmortuary.net.
