Margaret Bell

Margaret Bell was a generous and compassionate woman whose life illustrates what it truly means to be the hands and feet of the Lord she loved. Margaret was bright, quick-witted, and blessed with the gift of hospitality as her homes always had a guest room that was ready for a visitor. Although she moved around a lot throughout her life, Margaret turned each house into a home filled not only with her familiar possessions, but also with abundant love. She considered it pure joy to care for her family and together with her husband, Margaret instilled within her children the Christian beliefs that were engraved upon her heart. A legacy of strength, sacrificial love, and grace will live on in those she leaves behind.

Margaret’s story began on November 25, 1929 when Gerrit and Margaret “Evangeline” (Purdue) Verhoeven welcomed their daughter, Margaret, into their hearts and home. Born in Muskegon, Michigan, Margaret was the second of four children in her family and the only girl. Her father was a Dutch immigrant so Margaret was able to pick up bits and pieces of the Dutch language. Margaret’s mother was a third generation Salvationist, so "the Army" was in Margaret's blood through and through and was a vital part of both her childhood and adult life. In The Salvation Army’s Girl Guard Program, Margaret achieved the highest rank that was available at the time: General’s Guard. She played the baritone in the band and also helped out with Sunday school. It was at a Salvation Army Youth Council that Margaret met the young man with whom she would share an abiding love. His name was Emory Bell and they met when they were both just 14 years old.

Just five months after she graduated from Muskegon High School in 1948, Margaret married her sweetheart and became Mrs. Emory Bell on June 19th in Cadillac. The young bride moved to Cadillac where she worked for Montgomery Ward. Not long after they married, the couple welcomed Michael, their first child. After two years in Cadillac, the family of three moved to Muskegon in search of better employment opportunities. Once there, Margaret began working for General Telephone Company. While living in Muskegon, they were also blessed with two more children, George and Ronald, who died shortly after birth.

Answering God's call to full-time service, Margaret and Emory entered The Salvation Army Training College in Chicago in 1954. It was difficult for Margaret to leave her children in Muskegon while she was training in Chicago, especially as they were unable to visit and could only afford a rare phone call home. Their first appointment was to command the Virginia, Minnesota corps, and they were blessed with the birth of their only daughter, Peggy. They remained in Minnesota for two additional appointments, Brainerd and St. Cloud. Margaret and Emory then left officership in 1961 and moved back to Muskegon. In addition to maintaining the home, Margaret also worked as a secretary at a plumbing company. In 1969, Margaret, Emory and Peggy moved to Mundelein, Illinois, where she worked at Decorel until 1975 and soldiered at the Waukegan corps.

Margaret truly loved caring for her family. Margaret and Emory raised their children in the faith, making sure they went to The Salvation Army every Sunday morning and evening and that the children were active in Salvation Army youth and music activities several evening each week. She even saw to it that the family held their own Sunday School while on a family trip to the Upper Peninsula so that the children could maintain their perfect Sunday School attendance. Margaret’s combined love for both Lake Michigan and picnics often took their family to the beaches of Western Michigan and to Lake Cadillac.

In 1976, Margaret and Emory returned to active duty as officers in The Salvation Army and were appointed to the Men’s Social Service Center in Evansville, Indiana. They followed their call to appointments in Des Moines, Iowa and Lincoln, Nebraska before finishing their active service in Flint, where they served for nearly nine years before retiring in 1995. Throughout her many years of service, Margaret not only did what was required, but whatever was necessary - and then some. As an ordained minister, Margaret would preach and provide spiritual counseling to the men in the Adult Rehabilitation Centers. She also provided substance abuse counseling, and she was always available to listen to the men and provide loving acceptance.

After they retired, Margaret and Emory moved to Grand Rapids in order to be close to good hospitals and to the Grand Rapids Fulton Heights Corps. Although she never let her health struggles interfere with her life, Margaret had severe diabetes, required dialysis treatments three days a week, always had to be on oxygen, had severe heart problems and lost her vision. Yet she always found a way to accomplish what she wanted – if someone was going somewhere or doing something, she seemed to want to go along despite her health challenges whether it was out for dinner, on a trip, or to a family gathering.

There were so many things that made Margaret such a special and unique woman. She was a people person and it was very evident that Margaret genuinely cared for others. Before you could even ask how she was, she would have already engaged you in conversation to the point where she knew your entire history. Even as her health limited her mobility, Margaret kept in touch with others over the phone, talking with them and then praying for them. She faithfully sent birthday and anniversary cards to friends and family members and the cards for her children and grandchildren always contained something special. Margaret loved to go clothes shopping and over the last several years, she developed a love for NASCAR racing, especially cheering on Jeff Gordon. She also loved to watch football, usually cheering for the opposite team as what everyone else was cheering for, just to get them going! Margaret liked traveling especially over back roads in Michigan but also to destinations as far away as the Holy Land, Egypt, and Europe. Margaret had an extensive collection of both angel and bells and loved to play games whenever she could, especially Scrabble.

Margaret Bell was bubbly, friendly, and sure to complete whatever she put her mind to. She had a zest for life and a deep love for her children. She was thrilled with the arrival of grandchildren even though she didn’t get to see them as much as she would have liked. A woman of steadfast faith, Margaret lived her life to serve others whether through her work, in her family, or within her community. She will be dearly missed by many.

Margaret A. Bell died on September 11, 2010. Margaret’s family includes her husband, Emory; their children George (Jennifer) Bell, Peggy (Brad) Carey, Gail Bell; several grandchildren; brothers, Wilbert and Don Verhoeven; and many nieces and nephews. Margaret was preceded in death by her son Michael and her brother Gerrit Verhoeven. A service to celebrate her Promotion to Glory will be held on Monday, September 20, 2010 at 11 a.m. at the Fulton Heights Citadel of The Salvation Army, 1235 E. Fulton. Friends may visit with her family on Sunday from 4-8 p.m. at Heritage Life Story Funeral Home - Van Strien – Grand Rapids, MI, 1833 Plainfield NE and on Monday at the Fulton Heights Citadel from 10 a.m. until the 11 a.m. service. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com where you can leave a memory or make a memorial contribution to The Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center in Flint or the Fulton Heights Citadel corps in Grand Rapids.