Merla Ocea Coltrin Bell

Sep. 9, 1926 - Jun. 24, 2012

Date of Service: Jun. 28, 2012

Merla O. Bell

ALBION – Merla Ocea Coltrin Bell, 85, of Albion, passed away peacefully at her home Sunday, June 24, 2012.

Merla was born Sept. 9, 1926 in Provo, Utah, to Ira Hugh and Ocea Lewis Coltrin. She was the fifth of eight children, with two older brothers, two older sisters, and three younger brothers. She spent her growing up years in Burley. Merla graduated from Burley High School and attended Albion State Normal School. While at the normal school she met a young Albion man who stole her heart. She married this young man, Leo Russell Bell, on Nov. 15, 1945, in the Salt Lake LDS Temple, where they were sealed for time and all eternity. After she and Leo were married, they lived in Albion for a bit and then moved to Malta where Leo farmed his brother’s farm for a few years. Leo had to buy Merla a piano, (which has a place of honor in the family home to this day) in order to get her to agree to move to Malta. In 1951, Merla and Leo bought the farm in Albion and began a long-term life of raising the five kids, the crops, and the cattle.

Merla was a super substitute teacher and post office worker. She drove many a harvest truck in the fall. She was a cook at the Albion Senior Citizen’s Center for many years. But the job she was the very best at was being Leo’s right hand man on the farm and ranch, and raising her five wonderful children.

Merla was an active member of the LDS Church. She was the ward’s only pianist and organist for many years. She served in the Primary, Relief Society, and Young Women presidencies and also taught many wonderful lessons in all those organizations, and planned many memorable activities. Of all her church callings, she loved being the pianist in Primary the very best. She and Leo also enjoyed being the Raft River Stake dance directors for two years.

Square dancing was one of Merla and Leo’s favorite things to do together. Merla designed and sewed all their matching out fits; she was the “Bell” of the Ball. She could sew anything, and did so for her family and friends. She played many musical instruments and taught many including her grandkids how to play the piano. She enjoyed cooking and was known for her homemade bread and raspberries.

Merla is survived by her husband, Leo Russell Bell of Albion; her children, Deidre (Vic) Warr of Boise, Laura Lee (Mike) Archibald of Buhl, David (Shari) Bell of Albion, Doris Elaine (Mike) Ricks of Idaho Falls, and Dona Bell of Pocatello; 17 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; and three brothers, Ira Coltrin and Horace (Jean) Coltrin all of Burley, and Gene (Emma) Coltrin of Tucson, Arizona.

She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers; two sisters; two grandsons, Michael and Jeffrey Archibald; and one granddaughter, Jana Bell Thornton.

The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, June 28, at the Albion LDS Church with Bishop Randy Brackenbury officiating. Burial will be in the Mormon Cemetery.

Friends may call from 6 until 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 27, at the Rasmussen Funeral Home, 1350 E. 16th St., in Burley, and from 10 until 10:45 a.m. Thursday at the church.