Lila Bell
1935 — 2024
Lila Fae Allen Bell, 88, passed away peacefully on Sunday, February 11, 2024 with her dear Jim by her side. Lila was born May 22, 1935, in Huntsville, Utah to William Abner and Cecilia Elmina Peterson Allen. She deeply cherished living and growing up in her Ogden Valley home with her five brothers and two sisters. She grew up in the small town of Huntsville, Utah but her world would eventually expand to include Ogden, Boston, Provo, Salt Lake, Europe, Hawaii, and Minnesota. She graduated from Valley Jr. High and Weber High School and was involved in cheerleading, dancing, student government, and the orchestra where she nurtured her love of music.
After attending Weber College and graduating from Utah State Agricultural College in 1957, Lila moved to Boston, MA where she developed many cherished friendships in the Cambridge Branch of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She worked for a time in the education office at Harvard College and then got a job as an assistant dietician at the Shepherd-Gill School of Practical Nursing, teaching classes in nutrition and diet therapy.
After spending an adventurous summer traveling in Europe in 1959, her desire for learning took her back to Utah where she studied psychology at BYU and then at the University of Utah. She became a school psychologist and spent many happy years surrounded by wonderful people while working for the Provo School District, the Weber County School District, and the Youth Team at Weber County Mental Health.
She moved back to Huntsville where she lived in her beautiful “Rock House”, a split- river-rock A-frame home that her brothers and nephews built for her. Lila filled her home with beautiful antiques and art, and each piece had meaning to her. She cared for her flowers and gardens. And she always welcomed family to her home. She truly loved her Huntsville home and her family’s heritage in the area. Numerous nieces and nephews are blessed to have had Lila as their aunt. She taught them etiquette, correct behavior, and skills such as how to properly wrap a present or furnish a room.
Lila had a thirst for knowledge, travel, and other cultures. While traveling in Hawaii, Lila was introduced by a concierge at the King Kamehameha Hotel to a fellow traveler, James Aston Bell. Jim, originally from Pittsburgh, PA, was living in Minneapolis, MN. After many letters, long phone calls, and trips between Utah and Minnesota, Jim and Lila were married in Hawaii on February 12, 2004. Jim has been the love of Lila’s life and has been a profound blessing to her. His steadiness and goodness cannot be overstated.
Lila loved the Gospel of Jesus Christ and actively served in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in many capacities; dance director for the Huntsville Ward, ward and stake young women’s organizations, relief society, teaching family history, organist, stake missionary, and a temple ordinance worker in the Minneapolis St. Paul Temple. She also participated in ward and community choirs for much of her adult life.
Lila has rejoined her parents, Abner and Elmina; her sister, Lou Jean (Thayne Robson); her brothers, Bill (Sherie), Scott (Betty), Ross (Norma), and Lawrence (Frances). She is survived by her husband, Jim; her brother, Garth (Lois); and her sister, Nancy (Lynn Jensen).
Our deepest gratitude goes out to the caring souls at Intermountain Hospice and Home Care, especially nurse Amber, for their kind service and helping Lila feel comfortable in her final days.
Lila’s good nature, intelligence, positive attitude, wisdom, and love will be dearly missed… until we meet again.
A viewing will be held at Myers Ogden Mortuary, 845 Washington Blvd Ogden, Utah on Thursday, February 15, 2024 from 6-8 pm. Services will be 11:00 a.m. Friday, February 16, 2024, with a viewing prior to services 10:00-11:00 a.m. at Huntsville South Fork Chapel, 277 S. 7400 E., Huntsville, Utah. Interment will be at the Huntsville City Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers please consider following Lilas legacy of love and caring for others.