Thelma Bell

Thelma Jean Bell (nee Sutherland)
September 2nd, 1930 - May 19th, 2022

Peacefully on May 19th, 2022, Mom passed away at the Betel Nursing Home in Selkirk. She was 91 years old.
Mom was predeceased by her loving husband Olafur Bell on December 30, 1980. She was also predeceased by her parents Reginald and Elsie Sutherland; baby sister Edith at birth; brothers Lyall and Ed; mother and father-in-law Ernest and Lovisa Bell; and daughter Marilyn Loutit on July 24, 2021.
Our Mom, Amma and Amma-Amma will be lovingly remembered by her son Myron (Carol) Bell, daughters Maureen (Harry) Petersen, Barb (Jason) Nutbean, Kim (Ron) Chartier and son-in-law Dale Loutit. Mom's grandchildren Ken, Tanya (Phil), Jennifer (Ryan), Dianne (Scott), Erik (Desiree), Rod (Carmen), Kurt, Christopher, Shannen, Nickolas, Matthew, Stuart (Christina), Jesse, Jonathan (Kiera), Nicholas (Tonie), Jackie and 15 great-grandchildren, sisters-in-law Marjorie and Fran Sutherland, Bonnie and Louella Bell and brother-in-law Billy Bell.
Mom was born in Selkirk, MB on September 2, 1930 and was raised on the Sutherland Family Farm in Clandeboye. Mom attended school in Meadowdale and graduated grade 11 from Clandeboye High School on May 28, 1948. After graduating Mom took a one year position as a Permit Teacher in Emesville near Grassmere Road. She taught anywhere from 20-30 students with a range in ages. Some students were much taller than her. Then to Winnipeg working at Eaton's Mail Order. She then moved back to Selkirk and worked there.
Mom met Dad, a handsome Icelander from Hecla Island at a Clandeboye Dance. They were married on September 8, 1951 at Christ Church in Selkirk, MB. Mom and Dad lived in Selkirk for 16 years until moving the family to Clandeboye in 1967. This is where they started The Bell Family Farm. Taking care of cattle, horses, chickens, cats, dogs, rabbits and all the responsibility that goes into taking care of all of them as well. The road we lived on was named Bell Road. Mom and Dad taught us kids the hard work ethic which was led by example and to always treat everyone with respect.
Like her family before her, Mom was a very dedicated and hardworking member of St. George's Wakefield Anglican Church. She served many duties and was an active 3rd generation Sutherland serving the Church. Mom was A.C.W. Secretary for 35 years until her retirement on May 30, 2010.
Mom and Dad worked together and helped out many family members and friends without any hesitation. Mom always went out of her way to bring everyone together hosting a number of holiday dinners. Every Christmas Mom brought out cousin Rosie McNabb from Winnipeg to stay with us. Mom and Dad would take the family for different road trips out to Alberta and Grand Forks to do shopping.
Mom was a stay at home Mom and Dad worked at the Selkirk Rolling Mill for almost 30 years. It was on December 30, 1980 when Dad died from cancer.
Mom was a widow at only 50 years old and had 2 young daughter's to raise. Even though life was really really tough Mom always had a welcoming home and we never did without. After Dad passed Mom worked for home care then was a cleaner for the RM of St. Andrew's office for years.
Mom gave countless time and energy to her family, Church and community. She enjoyed gardening, Tuesday Bowling, bingo, volunteering for The Red Cross and being a member of Gordon Howard Senior Center. Even after Dad passed Mom still enjoyed travelling. Mom travelled to Las Vegas twice with all her children to celebrate her 75th and 80th birthday. She really enjoyed her 80th birthday party us kids gave her and she talked about it for years. She also travelled with family all the way to British Columbia and Mexico. Mom enjoyed a number of senior bus trips with a group of 4 ladies and they were known as "The Golden Girls". Her highlight bus trip took her all the way to Branson, Missouri where she saw one of her favourite singers Daniel O'Donnell. She also saw Tommy Hunter with family.
Mom was a gifted seamstress. She made her daughter's many matching outfits. She also made quilts for all her children, grandchildren and some great-grandchildren. Mom also sewed all the bridesmaid dresses for Myron and Maureen's weddings. She was a dedicated 4-H leader Mom for all her children. She took great pride in her home, garden, yard and flowers. She was still able to cut her own grass until moving to Selkirk in 2013.
Mom was a homemaker who thoroughly enjoyed cooking, baking and pickling. We would come home to the wonderful aroma of freshly baked bread, cinnamon buns, pies and soups. Her specialties were her homemade beets, dill pickles, celery sauce and delicious perogies. Mom carried on the Icelandic tradition from Dad's family, making vinetarta and brown bread. She made all of her children's wedding fruit cakes and always did the traditional Christmas pudding with special rum sauce. Every birthday she made us her confetti angel food cake with the 7 minute pink frosting.
She went berry picking with her family and usually ate more strawberries than what went into her pail. Mom was also a sharp shooter with the 22 pegging off a number of skunks.
Mom was a very strong and smart woman. She was always up for anything. She enjoyed the spontaneous car rides with her family. Just simply going out to check the farmer's fields, a yearly trip to Hecla and of course going to Half Moon for ice cream. We would hear countless stories down memory lane which we will always cherish. Mom was so grateful to have seen all of her children and grandchildren graduate from high school.
When Dad and Marilyn passed away, they took a piece of our hearts with them. Now Mom has taken another piece of our heart with her as well. One day all of the pieces will connect again in Heaven.
The family would like to thank the Betel Home and Woodlands Court for their wonderful care, love and respect they provided to our Mom over the years. Thank you Gloria, Mom's Friend at the Betel for always keeping an eye on Mom for us. We were Blessed to have such caring people taking such good care of our Mom when we couldn't anymore. Especially during the pandemic when the simple things in life like being able to breath the same air as her or just sitting beside her wasn't possible. But thankfully we could still see through the window that the kind and thoughtful staff had her hair, nails and lipstick all done up nice, just the way she would have liked it! Your kindness and compassion will never be forgotten!!
A private family service will take place at St. George's Wakefield Church. The service can be viewed by in two parts by clicking the following links https://youtu.be/NmYOuPnOhZ0     https://youtu.be/JTSAqQjFPAc Mom's grandsons will be her pallbearers; her active pallbearers will be Ken Bell, Erik and Rod Petersen, Jesse Chartier, Nickolas and Matthew Nutbean. Her honorary pallbearers will be Kurt Petersen, Jonathan and Nicholas Chartier, Christopher Loutit and Stuart Geers.
In lieu of flowers memorial donations can be made to St. George's Wakefield Church - Cemetery Fund, Box 219, Clandeboye, MB R0C 0P0.
As a tribute to Mom as she loved the color purple, please pick any purple flowers in her memory.
We love you Mom, Amma and Amma-Amma. Until we meet again.

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