Lawrence Leon Bell

Lawrence Leon Bell, age 92 of Ottawa, Kansas passed Sunday, April 26, 2026 at Advent Health of Ottawa, as a result of natural causes. Graveside services will be 11AM, Saturday, May 2, 2026 at the Wellsville Cemetery. Pastor Daniel Dugas will provide services and the American Legion Post 194 will render military honors. Memorial contributions may be made to the Wellsville Historical Society or the Wellsville Baptist Church in care of Wilson’s, PO Box 486, Wellsville, KS 66092. 

Lawrence “Leon” Bell was born November 28th, 1933, in Wellsville, Kansas the only son of Charles Forrest “Bud” and Letha M. (Langdon) Bell. As a child, Leon spent a few years in San Diego, California, moving back to Wellsville in 1945 and graduating from Wellsville High School in 1952. He went to work for the Santa Fe railroad signal crew in Kansas and Oklahoma, until 1954 when he was drafted into the Army and served 2 years, stationed in Fairbanks, Alaska. Afterwards, Leon went to work for the City of Ottawa in the Electrical Department for 18 years, Following that, he accomplished 15 years for Tri-State in Cheyenne, Wyoming. While living in Cheyenne, Wyoming, Leon retired in 1996 and moved back to Ottawa Kansas. 

Leon and his wife Sharon spent 55 remarkable years together living in different states, traveling, and most of all enjoying one another’s company. Leon enjoyed many hobbies: Metal detecting, collecting license plates, coins, and going to many auctions. He enjoyed meeting and talking to people, never meeting a stranger. Leon was involved in many clubs and organizations. He belonged to the Coin Club of Ottawa, the Eagles and Elks club, and the AUTO License Plate Collector Association (ALPACA). 

Leon is survived by his wife, Sharon Bell of the home (Ottawa Kansas); son, Alan Bell and wife, Neffra Matthews (Lakewood Colorado); Daughter, Sherri (Bell) Williams and husband, Jeffrey Williams (Garland Texas); a stepson, Brad Brill and wife, Lynn Brill (Broken Arrow Oklahoma); a stepdaughter, Brenda (Brill) Miller and husband, Kevin Miller (Ottawa Kansas); Four grandchildren: Brent Hanson and wife Kasey Hanson (Pomona Kansas); Brittany (Hanson) Bowers and husband Brian Bowers (Williamsburg Kansas); Rachel (Brill) Rogers and husband Joe Rogers (Tulsa Oklahoma); and Andrew Brill (Broken Arrow Oklahoma); 9 Great Grandchildren: Briley Bowers, Brax Bowers, Brikan Bowers, Braze Bowers, Kase Hanson, Bo Dillard, Baylee Dillard, Jerome Rogers, and Oliver Rogers. 

He is preceded in death by his parents. 

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