Nelda Bell

Surrounded by her family, Nelda Bell of Flin Flon, Manitoba passed away peacefully at the Flin Flon General Hospital on Tuesday, September 13, 2022 at the age of 96 years.

Nelda was born on May 16, 1926 to parents Joseph and Anna Rogstad in Sturgis, Saskatchewan. She received her schooling there from Grade 1-12. In August, 1944 – June 1946 she taught school in Okla, Saskatchewan and from August 1946 – June 1947 she taught at Ajax school (10 miles north of Sturgis). In August 1947 Nelda commenced her nurse’s training in Yorkton, Saskatchewan. After 1 ½ years of training, January 1949, Nelda married Gerald Clarke Lemcke in Yorkton. Right after the wedding they moved to Flin Flon where Gerald started working for Hudson Bay Mining and Smelting Company. From this union five children were born: Richard, Sharon, Robert, Barbara and Dianne.

Twelve years after quitting her nurses training, in 1961 Nelda attained her Licenced Practical Nurses’ Certificate from St. Boniface Hospital in Winnipeg, Manitoba. She nursed for 30 years (1961 – 1991).

In October 1966 son Richard lost his life in a hunting accident at age 17 and in June 1968 her husband Gerald passed away from colon cancer after 4 ½ years of a heroic battle. He was only 38 years of age and Nelda became a widow at age 42 years of age.

In December, 1969, Nelda married Clayton Allan Bell in Flin Flon, Manitoba at the United Church.

She was also predeceased by her parents Joseph and Anna Rogstad, brother Vernon and daughter Sharon (January 2017).

Together with their children they enjoyed travelling and time at the cabin at Denare Beach, then Baker’s Narrows. After retirement they moved into Legion Jubilee Residence in 1991. They spent the winters in Mercedes, Texas and back for the summers in Flin Flon.

Clayton passed away July 3, 2009 and Nelda continued to live at the Legion Jubilee Residence in Flin Flon and enjoyed the cabin until the fall of 2017. She always took pride in her multiple flowers there, and enjoyed a cabin full of friends and family for get togethers and an abundance of food. She loved to play games and taught all the grandkids how to play Uno, Skip Bo and Dominoes and we continue to play for many hours at a time.

To date Nelda has 5 children, 3 surviving Bob (Karen) Lemcke, Barb (Allan) Link, Dianne (Greg) Jackson, 9 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren and 3 great great grandchildren as well as her only surviving sister Jeanette (Barrie) Smith who reside in Flin Flon, carrying on her spirit for family. She also has her step children, Jim (Karen), Jane along with their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren living in British Columbia.

A private family Celebration of Life for Nelda Bell will be held at a later date.

If friends so desire memorial tributes may be made to the Northern Neighbours Community Foundation, P.O. Box 802, Flin Flon, Manitoba, R8A 1N6. www.northernneighbours.com