Fred Leon Bell

Fred L. Bell passed away peacefully on Wednesday, May 28, 2024 at his home in Jefferson City, Montana. He was born on June 1, 1934 in Helena, Montana to Ida and Fred W. Bell of Jefferson City. He lived the majority of his life in Jefferson County. The first two years were in Jefferson City, then the family moved to Elkhorn for the next three years. Since Elkhorn did not have a school, they packed up and moved back to Jefferson City. Fred attended the Jefferson City School through the fifth grade when the school closed, so they packed up again and moved to Boulder where he graduated grade school and high school. Fred loved all sports, participating in many, establishing basketball school records. As an adult he played on basketball and baseball town teams. At one of the Jefferson County High School basketball games, Fred fell in love with a cheerleader Cleone Anderson. Fred and Cleone were married on September 5, 1954 in the high school gymnasium. They lived in Bozeman for two years, while Fred was attending MSC. In 1958 they owned and operated the Boulder Fountain until 1962. After the Fountain, Fred was a teacher at the Boulder River School & Hospital, drove school bus, worked many other jobs in Boulder and juggled five children. He started teaching math and science and coaching basketball and baseball at East Helena until his retirement. He taught school for over 25 years. But he never stopped trying to teach and coach!

He had always dreamed of owning and operating a big ranch, but he had to settle for 5 children and 40 cows! Fred was a life long lover of animals, especially dogs and horses. As a child, he worked on the McGowan ranch near Boulder, and for his uncle on Snowshoe Creek where he operated haying equipment drawn by draft horses. He also worked with his cousin Sonny on the Madison ranch in Jefferson City.

Fred was very involved in the Town of Boulder such as helping establish little league baseball and basketball, Town Councilman, Jefferson High Booster Club, member of the Jaycee’s and volunteering his spare time. His mind was an encyclopedia about the history of the area and the families (both Boulder and East Helena), as long as he had a captive audience he’d talk! His most favorite audience was at T’ings Happen, which he owned and operated from 2013 to 2022.

Friends and family will miss his big heart and the love of all kids. Fred said many times, “Kids are the name of the game”. In 1955, Fred and Cleone started their family with Thomas, Bruce, Candice, Scott and Cristie. Family was always a priority to both Fred and Cleone. He called his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren “a present”.

Fred was preceded in death by his wife Cleone, parents Ida and Fred Bell, his son Tom and daughter Cris, granddaughter Jessica Bell Gill and in-laws Alta Pine and Harold Wetzel. Fred is survived by his children Bruce (Patty) Bell, Candy Bell and Scott (Patti) Bell; grandchildren Adam Gill, Neal (Rissy) Bell, Jayce (Lynsey) Bell, Nicole (Eric) Hensley, Michael (Alicia) Bell, Meagan (Justin) Halvorson, and Melissa (Sam) Olson; great grandchildren Pete and Alex Gill, Juliet, Graham, Rosalie and Nora Bell, Peyton and Paige Bell, Layla and Maia Hensley, Mason, Miles, Morgan, Maverick and Addison Bell, Brooklyn, Alexis and Lukas Halvorson and numerous cousins.

Memorials in Fred’s name may be made to the Elkhorn Cemetery Fund at the Madison Valley Bank in Boulder or any other organization of your choice.

The family would like to thank Headwaters Hospice for their guidance and assistance in keeping Fred comfortable in the last weeks of his life.