Mildred Louise Bell

June 18, 1925 - November 4, 2017

Mildred Louise Kaplan Bell, 92, of Hampton, Iowa, passed away Saturday, November 4, 2017, at Bethany Manor in Story City, Iowa. She was born on June 18, 1925, to Ed and Bessie (Nachazel) Kaplan at her grandparents' family farm in Franklin County. Mildred grew up on the family farm four miles north of Burdette and attended the country school thru eighth grade. She attended Iowa Falls High School and graduated in 1942. Mildred continued her education attending Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls and received a four-quarter rural teaching certificate which started her teaching career in the fall of 1943, in Burdette, Iowa. She continued working on her education degree and after twenty-eight years, she graduated in 1970, with a Bachelor of Arts in elementary education. On January 18, 1947, Mildred married Thomas D. Bell of Williams, Iowa. She continued to live in the Williams, Iowa Falls, and Hampton areas raising their four children James, Janis, Jerry and John, while being involved in many areas, teaching Sunday school, social activities for school and church, especially the Hampton United Methodist Church, where she served many areas. Mildred enjoyed many hobbies, making quilts, sewing for her family, entertaining family and caring for her parents. Mildred is survived by her children Janis (John) Simansons of Ormond Beach, Florida, Jerry (Peggy) Bell of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and John (Debrah) Bell of Story City, grandchildren Colin (Anna) Bell, Amy (Brandon) Provost, Thomas (Allison) Bell and Marcey (Tracy) Propp, great-grandchildren, who called her Grandma Great, Miles Bell, Wrigley Propp, Weston Provost and Killian Bell, step-granddaughter Mallory Propp, brother Merle (Karen) Kaplan, sister Dorothy Light, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents Ed and Bessie, husband Thomas, son James and brother LaVerne Kaplan.