Harold Bud Bell

Harold John "Bud" Bell, 97, of Bozeman, Montana, passed away Tuesday, January 16, 2018 at his home with his wife at his side. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 17 at Hope Lutheran Church, 2152 Graf St, Bozeman. Harold was born May 9, 1920 at Brook Park, Minnesota on a farm to John and Helen (Carlson) Bell. He was educated in public schools in northern Minnesota and Minneapolis. He went to work in 1938 working for various companies; the first four years with Omaha Railroad Star Machine & Tool Co. Minneapolis Moline, becoming a machinist and tool maker. The winter of 1943 he went to work for the Becktel Corporation of San Francisco as a machinist and machinist foreman in Canada and Alaska. He returned to St. Paul for the birth of his third child and was drafted into the U.S. Navy serving as a Machinist Mate and was discharged in 1945 as a Machinist Mate 1st Class. Upon returning he attended the University of Minnesota in Mechanical Engineering. Harold went to work for the Northern Pacific railroad as a machinist at Livingston, Montana February 1st, 1950. August of 1951 he was accepted into the Special Apprentice program of the NPR. After completing that training he worked in various shops for St. Paul, MN to Yakima, WA. In October of 1956 he was made assistant roundhouse foreman, Livingston, Montana. March of 1963 System Diesel supervisor, Livingston, Montana. July 1965 General foreman Livingston back-shop. January 1, 1970 Master mechanic at Livingston rocky Mountain Division. February of 1975 Assistant Superintendent Mechanical at Havre, Montana and retired August 1, 1979 from the Burlington Northern Railroad. After retiring from the Railroad he had a truck-tractor leased to International Transport of Rochester, Minnesota. He trucked for eleven years; 3 months in the fall and 3 months in the spring, covering all lower 48 states and most of Canada. He had his second by-pass heart surgery in August 1990 ending his trucking career. He married Verna G. Johnson in Forest Lake, Minnesota in March of 1941. To this union four children were born. In August of 1966 he married Betty Lou Caughy. In July 1984 he was united in marriage to Justine Hare Evje. He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Helen Bell; sisters, Millicent Sever, Lillian Elmore and Harriet Hannon; step-son Jeff Bell; and son, Wayne Bell. He is survived by his wife Justine; children, Janet Bell of Salem, OR, Stanley M. (Sally) Bell of Berrien Springs, MI and Thomas M. (Paula) Bell of Salem, OR; step-son Tim Bell of Bozeman, MT: step-son Gary (Andie) Evje of West Yellowstone, MT, step-daughter, Peggy (Bill) Strong of Livingston; six grandchildren, five step-grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren, six step-great-grandchildren; and brother, Dwain Bell of New Hope, MN. Numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and dear friends. Bud, in his retirement years enjoyed building and remodeling for his children and summers were spent golfing and keeping everything in good repair at THE CABIN. He was a member of Hope Lutheran Church, American Legion Park Post #23 and the VFW. Memorials may be directed to Hope Lutheran Church, Bozeman Health Hospice or to a charity of your choice. Arrangements are under the care of Franzen-Davis Funeral Home and Crematory.