Benjamin H. Bell Jr.

Benjamin H. Bell Jr. went to his eternal home to be with his Lord and Savior on March 29, 2025. He was born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas on February 8, 1927, where he spent his early childhood. When he was thirteen years old, Ben moved with his parents to Grand Junction Colorado, where he attended High School and graduated in 1944. After graduation, Ben worked for the D&RGW Railroad until he was old enough to join the United States Navy, spending the final year of WWII in the Pacific War. After his time in the Navy, Ben attended college at Colorado A&M in Fort Collins Colorado. In 1948, Ben began a machinist apprenticeship with the D&RGW Railroad in Grand Junction and then was offered a job as a railroad machinist in Alamosa Colorado. He later became employed by the National Lead Company, which was under contract with the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, as a pilot plant for uranium production. Ben met Laura Foote, the woman that would soon be his wife, at their town dance one evening. Ironically, Laura just so happened to live only a few doors down on the same street as Ben. He courted Laura for a short time, backing his car up down the street to her house to pick her up for their dates, and in 1951, they were married. In 1958, upon the closing of the uranium plant he was employed with, he and Laura, moved to Canon City Colorado. Upon arrival to Canon City, he accepted a position with Cotter Corporation, a uranium processing plant. Ben retired from Cotter after thirty years of dedicated service.
Throughout his long life, Ben enjoyed golf, fishing, camping, walking on the river walk, riding his motorcycle and watching the Denver Broncos play on Sundays. Ben was a devout Christian who loved the Lord and had been an active member of First Christian Church in Canon City, where he served as Elder, Trustee, Board Chairman and member of the church choir. Ben loved singing, playing his guitar, keyboard piano, and for many years was an active member of the Fremont Civic Choir and the Florence Senior Center, where you could find him singing his favorite songs on Friday nights. In his spare time, Ben recorded multiple cover-song albums. Ben joined Mount Moriah Masonic Lodge #15 in 1968. Ben served all officer stations, as well as three terms of Worshipful Master, later being appointed District Lecturer. He was appointed to the Colorado Grand Lodge line in 1985, and in 1994 Ben was elected Grand Master of Colorado.
Ben is survived by his two sons, David (Edith), Darren (Jessie); grandchildren, Shawna, Alyssa and Michael; and multiple great-grandchildren. Ben was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Kathleen; son, Steve; and his wife Laura, whom he was happily married to for 62 years.
Ben always gave credit to the Lord for giving him a wonderful and long life. He loved his life and the many friends he made along the way, he will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
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