Ruth Bell

Ruth Marie Bell was born February 17, 1936, in Denison, Iowa, to Meinhardt and Hilda Jepsen Jaacks. She died Friday, February 4, 2011, at Creighton University Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska, at the age of seventy-four.
Ruth was baptized in Christ on April 26, 1936, and confirmed on April 2, 1950, at Zion Lutheran Church in Denison, Iowa. She graduated from Denison High School with the class of 1954. She married Morelle Else on October 16, 1955, and the couple made their home on the Else family farm near Schleswig, Iowa. They were blessed with the birth of three daughters. On June 26, 1983, Ruth was united in marriage to Robert Bell and they lived in their log home near Kiron, Iowa. Bob developed cancer and passed away on April 5, 1991.
Ruth loved life on the farm raising chickens, milking cows, baking, and canning produce. Following her divorce Ruth moved back to Denison and from 1971-73 worked as the secretary for Denison Elementary School. In 1973 she began working in the Crawford County Recorders Office and was elected and served as County Recorder from 1978-1982. From 1982-2000 she worked side by side with Bob Bell at City Auto Parts. When Bob became ill, she ran their business until she sold the parts store in 2000. Ruth looked forward to her volunteering at Zion Lutheran Church where she counted the weekly offering.
Ruth was a loving, passionate mother, devoted sister and grandmother, and was proud of her daughters accomplishments. Her grandchildren were the pride of her life and she enjoyed the time she was able to spend with them in person, as well as through electronic media. Her hobbies included gardening, cooking, making crafts, and reading. Ruth loved to spend time on the computer forwarding jokes, hunting for recipes, making greeting cards, and communicating with her family, classmates, and friends. She treasured her wildflowers and her flower gardens around her home in Denison. She relished the annual fishing trips up north with her late husband, Bob. Ruth loved socializing with her family and friends, and especially hearing about her grandchildrens lives. Each morning she and her sister challenged each other with the crossword puzzles from the Omaha World Herald and enjoyed a cup of coffee together.
Ruth was preceded in death by parents; her husband, Bob; three brothers: Robert, Ronnie, and Roger. Survivors include three daughters: Lashelle; Tamela and her husband, Fred; and Renee and her husband, David; nine grandchildren: Jeffrey, Jennifer, Nicole, Randy, Russell, Paige, Christina, Breanna, and Alexandria; two sisters: Roseann and her husband, Bob; and Rhonda Kay and her husband, Douglas; one brother, Richard and his wife, LeAnn; four sisters-in-law: Marlys and her husband, Lyle; Norma, Pat, and Courtney; many other great relatives and friends. Ruth will be missed by all those whose lives she touched.
Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, February 10, 2011, at Zion Lutheran Church in Denison. Rev. David Sewing and Rev. Kurt Kaiser officiated the service and graveside rites were held at Morgan Cemetery in Schleswig.Karen Kahl was organist and provided accompaniment for congregational hymns"On Eagles' Wings," and "Jesus Loves Me." Other selections included"Leave the Light On," and "I Can Only Imagine." Serving as pallbearers were Rodney Olson, Travis Wessel, James Jaacks, Darin Schau, Troy Wessel, and Rick Jaacks. The family invited everyone to return to the church and join them in fellowship and lunch servedby the Dorcas Society. The Huebner Funeral Homeof Denison was in charge of arrangements.