LILLIAN GRACE BELL

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LILLIAN GRACE BELL

Lillian Grace Bell (née Moffat) passed away quietly Saturday, August 1, 2026, at the age of 102.

Grace was born April 4, 1924 to Lilly and Will Moffat on a farm three miles from Elgin. She was just five years old when her musical talent came to life, a talent that remained with her until her final days. She started her playing by asking her mother to pump the old organ, because her legs were too short and she wanted to play her sister Esther’s music lesson. Mother pumped the organ and Grace played “Silent Night”. When her Dad heard, he wanted her to play “Golden Slippers” and she played that. It wasn’t long before the family was tired of pumping the pedals for Grace, so her father bought her a piano, which she kept for 73 years.

Receiving her education at Elgin School, Grace also worked for many merchants in Elgin, including Biggins’ Ice Cream Parlor and Grocery Store, Naylor’s Hardware, and Anderson’s Grocery and Men’s and Ladies’ wear. She also worked for Statistics Canada for 11 years. Grace held many offices in Elgin. She was president of the Elgin Community Hall, served as secretary for the town of Elgin for 15 years, was secretary of the Elgin Cemetery for 10 years, served with the Elgin Museum for six years, and held many different offices in the Legion Ladies Auxiliary. Grace was also a member of the Elgin Baptist Church and was baptized at the age of 12. She sang many duets in church and enjoyed singing in the Community Choir.

On April 26, 1947, Grace married Bob Bell, who had been overseas in the Second World War, but she continued to work at Anderson’s until he sold his store. When the garage where Bob worked was also sold, he went into a partnership in a service station and Massey Ferguson dealership. However, in 1965, when Bob and Grace were in Mexico at a Massey convention, their business in Elgin burned down. They built a new business, kept it until 1983, then sold it and retired.

When Grace and Bob sold their Elgin home in 2001, they moved into Hobbs Manor in Brandon, where they enjoyed the activities. Grace and friends started an orchestra, which they called The Happy Hobbnobbers. For the next 18 years, they played at dances and many entertainments at Hobbs and at most of the Personal Care homes in Brandon.

After Bob’s death, Grace continued with music at Hobbs Manor. Her favourite pastime was knitting for Christmas Cheer.

Grace and Bob had three children. Gordon Moffat Bell was bornin 1949, and after finishing school, worked for Murray Chev-Olds in Brandon for 30 years. Donald Robert Bell was born in 1953, and after graduating Grade 12, he went to Brandon, joined the Brandon Police Force, and was in the police business for 30 years. Kelly Leanne Bell was born in 1961, graduated Grade 12 Hartney School, then went to the University of Manitoba and became a dental hygienist.

Grace was predeceased by her husband Bob (2007), her son Gord (2012), and her daughter Leanne (2026), her grandson Scott (2008) and granddaughter-in-law Sherri (2022).

Left to remember Grace is her daughter-in-law Donna, her son Don and wife Juel, and her son-in-law Keith, as well many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

A funeral service was held at Kowalchuk’s Funeral Chapel, Souris on Saturday, August 22, 2026. Private interment in the Elgin Cemetery beside her husband Bob.

Messages of condolences may be made at www.kowalchuks.net

As published in Brandon Sun on Aug 29, 2026