Force: Army
William Bell was born in Stockton on Tees, Durham, England, on February 19, 1909. When he was 18 years old, he came to Canada and stayed with his uncle in Saskatchewan. In 1929 Bill came to the Spirit River AB area and filed on a quarter section in Willowvale where he homesteaded. He enjoyed hunting, and played music for house parties. On March 25, 1936 Bill married Beatrice England. Bill joined the Army in January 1942, enlisting in Edmonton, and was posted in England, Germany, Holland, and Italy. He returned to Canada in 1946. At that time, he took another section of land with the help of the Veteran’s Land Act Loan. While farming, Bill had other jobs. He was caretaker of the Spirit River School, worked on a survey crew, took a course in Steam Engineering, and worked at the hospital. He sold the farm in 1962. He was president of the Royal Canadian Legion. In his later years he developed a heart condition, and he passed away on February 24, 1977, in Willowvale. Bill and Beatrice had 3 children: Ken, Donna, and Camille.
Source: Memories and Moments PP. 155-157
Photos pp. 276, 155, 156
