Hyrum Victor Bell Jr.

BURLEY – Hyrum Victor Bell, Jr., age 86, of Burley, passed away on Thursday, March 29, 2012, at his home surrounded by family.

Hyrum was born on July 31, 1925, in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Hyrum Victor and Elizabeth Harker Bell. He was raised on a farm near Roberts, Idaho, where he lived until joining the Army Air Corp on Jan. 6, 1944. As a tail gunner on a B-17 bomber, he flew 32 missions over Germany. While home on furlough, he married his high school sweetheart, Verna Jeffery, whose many letters supported and sustained him during perilous times in World War II. They were married on May 24, 1945, in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. Shortly after, he was discharged from the Army and took up farming in the Terreton/Mud Lake area. He and Verna lived there for 12 years and eight children were born.

In 1957, they moved to a farm north of Rupert where six more children were born. In 1989, they sold their farm, retired, and moved to Burley. He enjoyed his large and extended family, camping, fishing and hunting. Gardening and woodworking projects kept him occupied as did his service for the church. Most of all, he had a strong testimony of Jesus Christ and willingly shared it with others. In 1996-1997 Hyrum and Verna served a mission in the Georgia Macon Mission spending at least half of their time in South Carolina.

He is survived by his wife, Verna; children, Jeff (Susan), Doug (Winnie), Derrick (Brigitte), Forrest (Lisa), Brad (Janet), Lorene Maughan, Kathleen Clark (Steve), Laurelie, Terry, Bart, Val (Angie) and Melanie Granillo (Rick); 54 grandchildren; and 89 great-grandchildren. Also surviving is his brother, David; a nephew; and three nieces.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sons, Greg and Dorrel; daughter-in-law, Trudy Bell; and son-in-law, Brent Maughan.

The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, April 4, at the Burley LDS Stake Center, 2050 Normal Ave., in Burley, with Bishop Mark Dowdle officiating. Burial will be in the Rupert Cemetery with military rites accorded by the Mini-Cassia Veterans Organization.

Friends may call from 6 until 8 p.m. Tuesday, April 3, at the Rasmussen Funeral Home, 1350 E. 16th St., in Burley, and from 10 until 10:45 a.m. Wednesday at the church.