Althea Edna Bell

Althea Edna Anderson Bell, 82-year-old resident of Alva, Oklahoma, passed peacefully in her sleep on Tuesday morning, May 19, 2026.  She was a much-loved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend to many, who was always planning grand adventures, plotting business ideas, and offering opinions and advice in her own unique ways. She was a big dreamer, a very resourceful woman, and was not afraid to speak her mind! She will be deeply missed and remembered for her presence at family gatherings, during which she always told stories, and loved to watch her brood of grandchildren and great grandchildren grow. She enjoyed the simple life, including taking care of children, plants, and animals, and her family meant everything to her!

Althea was born on September 14, 1943, to Arnold Melton Anderson and Rachel Edna Butts Anderson of Glasgow, Montana. She was homeschooled, then she attended Kalispell Business School, later working in various places such as Ferguson Electric and Heating Company and the hospital in Kalispell. At one point she took private lessons and learned the basics of flying a small airplane. She loved to sing little ditties throughout her day, such as “I’ve Got a Brand-New Pair of Roller Skates, You’ve Got a Brand-New Key.” She also played the violin, which her older children have fond memories of listening to. Another of her favorite things to do was escape into a good book, and she was a voracious reader! Some of her favorite authors included Louis L’Amour, Nora Roberts, Dean Koontz, Agatha Christy, John Grisham, and Tom Clancy.

June 3, 1962 Althea married James Esco Bell of Great Falls. They had three children - Timothy, Milton, and Rosanna. Althea and Jim eventually divorced, but they remained on friendly terms. In the early 1970’s Althea was in a relationship with René Richard Whitney of Townsend, Mt.  They had one son, Nathan. Althea and her older children then lived for several years in the state of Washington, where she worked for Harshberger’s Dairy and visited her Aunt Vivian in Seattle as often as possible. Later, when her next life adventure took her through Denver, Colorado then on to Oklahoma, Althea had one son, Jeffery, with her companion, George Alared. A few years later she had two daughters, Tiffany and Rachel, with her common law husband, Robert Green of Tahlequah. While living in Tahlequah, Althea studied horticulture at Bill Willis Skills Center, worked in various jobs, including Greenleaf Nursery, and was involved with Boudinot Baptist Church. For most of the last few years of her life Althea lived in Kiowa, Kansas with her son Jeffrey in a cute little house she bought with a “a song and a dime,” as they say! There she enjoyed drinking tea and coffee while playing cards with Jeff late into the night, visiting with her children’s families, and assigning construction tasks to Nathan to shore up that cute little house! Her daughters took turns helping keep things in order. Most of her extended family were able to join her there for a wonderful celebration of her 80th birthday in 2023. Althea spent the last few years of her life at Beadles New Beginnings in Alva, Oklahoma, winning at bingo and instructing the staff on “the proper way to do things!” They appreciated her sense of humor.

Althea was preceded in death by her parents, Arnold and Rachel Anderson; firstborn son, Timothy James Bell; first husband, Jim Bell and brother-in-law, William (Bill) Bell of Montana, Aunt Vivian Nelson of Seattle Washington and several other loved ones.

She is survived by her six remaining children, Milton Bell of Helena, Montana, Rosanna and husband, Jim Jensen of Gentry, Arkansas, Nathan and wife, Patricia of Overland Park Kansas, Jeff Bell of Skiatook, Oklahoma, Tiffany and husband, Zach Nelson of Skiatook, Oklahoma and Rachel and husband, Bryan Jackson of Kiowa, Kansas; grandchildren, Mia and husband, Clay Cheatham of Magnolia, Arkansas, Raychelle and husband, Bryan Goldman of Siloam Springs, Arkansas, Jael and husband, Ryan Brothers  of Westford, Massachusetts, Arin Grace and Abigail Joy Whitney of Overland Park, Kansas, Jesse Bell, Andrew, and Lauren of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, Faye (Avrey) and Audrey Rogers of Skiatook Oklahoma and Daniel, Matthew, and Freya Jackson of Kiowa, Kansas; step-grandchildren, Milo Dale of Seattle, Washington, and Rose and Liam Nelson of Skiatook, Oklahoma; great-grandchildren include, Colton and Landon Goldman of Siloam Springs, Arkansas, Asher, Silas, Jeffery, and Simon of Magnolia, Arkansas, and Lilah, Jesslyn, and Jesse of Tahlequah, Oklahoma; nephew, Travis Bell and family of Tulsa, Oklahoma, former common law husband, Robert Green of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, and a small number of extended relatives in Washington.

Althea’s family will have a private memorial and later lay her to rest in Montana next to her son Timothy.

Arrangements are by Lanman Funeral Home, Inc. of Kiowa.  www.lanmanfuneralhome.com Facebook:  Lanman Funeral Home Inc.