Norma Lorene Bell

There is no other like your Mother. Curious, strong, independent, brave, fierce, loving. Lorene consistently displayed these traits throughout her life.

In the wee hours of April 29th, 2024, Lorene's husband descended from heaven to take his cherished wife to their final resting place, reunited at last on their 74th wedding anniversary. They truly are now dancing among the stars!

Lorene was born in Texas to a poor, hard working farmer and WWI veteran, Clifford E. Lowder and his wife, Lillie Mae Lowder. Lorene was the fourth of five siblings and unfortunately due to an early death, did not remember her father.

Lillie (Mama), in order to give her children the best opportunities in life, gathered them together and moved them to the Bay Area in California when Lorene was ten years old. She helped raise her younger sister while Mama worked to support the family. She frequently spoke of walking her sister in the dark to the bus stop to meet Mama coming home.

At age 18, Lorene met the love of her life, Carl Eugene Bell. He had been a WWII Airforce veteran navigating many missions in a B24 bomber and later went on to be a builder, draftsman, and building estimator. They moved from a beautiful home they cherished in the Bay Area to North Lake Tahoe in 1960 and raised their daughters, Sharon Denise Murray (Curtis) and Debra Susan Bell Strachan (Gordon II) in the "Big Daddy Mountains".  On a whim, Lorene chose to water paraglide in front of their lakefront home for her 50th birthday present.  Their daughters later gave Lorene and Carl two grandsons apiece:  Jason (Jen) and David (Angela) Lehto, and Gordon III and Carl (Mariah) Strachan.  Carl later became ill, and Lorene became his part time caregiver, taking care of three homes on the property and the large yard.  

As his condition progressed, they decided to move to the golf course in Gardnerville, Nevada in the late 1980's where they enjoyed learning to golf out their front door, their mutual passion. Lorene was very proud of a hole-in-one that was verified and honored with a plaque she prominently displayed thereafter.  In 1996 they decided to move closer to their family in Bozeman, MT. Carl designed a home for Lorene and their son-in-law, Gordon II built it. Lorene furnished and decorated the home as Carl passed before he could enjoy it with her. Three great-grandchildren began arriving in the early 2000's, Sophia Strachan, Makenzie Strachan and Sawyer Strachan.  

To ease her loss of Carl, she chose to go to work at Macy's. She worked until 2017, well into her 80s. She frequently spoke highly of  her surrounding neighbors, friends and clients.

Lorene came from little and became much through hard work and honesty.  She was very supportive of her entire family.

Her Mama had many sayings and Lorene's favorite was "You're as good as the best and better than the rest".

You will forever be in our hearts and souls.  Rest now.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Home Health/Hospice facility of your choice. A private, family service will be held at a later date.