Phil “Eddie” Bell, 84, son of Edward and Hazel (Young) Bell was born December 7, 1935 in Abilene, Kansas. He went to heaven on Sunday, April 26, 2020 after a battle with cancer and pneumonia. Eddie was the oldest of two children, who grew up on a farmstead in New Cambria, Kansas.
Phil learned his ethics of hard work from his father, harvesting wheat and working the land. He graduated from Salina High School and went on to attend Fort Hayes University. He married the love of his life, Dixie Dalrymple, in 1959 at the United Presbyterian Church in Bennington, KS. He went on to be a successful businessman with Pillsbury company for the majority of his career. Exactly one year after their wedding date they had their first child, Christopher and shortly after, their second child, Darsi. Pillsbury Company took the family to Springfield, MO, Topeka, KS, Minneapolis, MN and then to Shawnee, KS, where they raised their family.
Family and friends were everything to Phil, he was known to attend any event for his children and grandchildren, whether big or small. He was an extraordinary husband, parent, grandparent and friend to everyone that met him. Always a great listener and encourager, he made everyone around him feel special, giving each and every person his undivided attention. As a result, his family was extremely close knit, as well as his lifelong friendships. His loved ones describe him as: loving, selfless, positive, thoughtful, caring, generous, their biggest cheerleader, a gracious host, a true friend and a whole lot of fun - always the life of the party. He was also a gentleman in every sense of the word.
Phil had many life-long hobbies. He loved boating, water-skiing, fishing, hunting, gardening, camping, traveling, and was not one to shy away from a good road trip. He frequently traveled to Lake of The Ozarks, MO and Estes Park, CO. One of his all-time favorite trips was to Hawaii, a gift to honor his service to the Pillsbury Company. Eddie took great pride in having a manicured lawn, a thriving garden (tomatoes, beets and onions were his staple) and believed most all problems could be fixed with a bacon wrapped steak.
He was a man of great faith. He knew that Jesus Christ was his Lord and savior and spent much time in prayer. Eddie’s life can be summarized as Paul wrote in II Timothy 4:7-8, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day - and not only me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.”
Survivors are his wife of 61 years, Dixie Bell of Shawnee, KS, son Chris (Penny) Bell of Bennington, KS; daughter Darsi (Mark) Eveland of Olathe, KS; sister Susie Just of Pawnee City, NE; niece Tracy (Dave) Doerr; nephew Todd Just, cousin Sheri Hunt of Lincoln, NE; grandchildren Mackenzie (Kyle) Smith of Austin, TX, Matthew Eveland of Nashville, TN, and numerous step-grandchildren. Phil was preceded in death by his parents, his wife’s parents, Tommy and Connie Dalrymple, and his brother-in-law, Jerry Just.
Visitation will be from 9:00 to 11:00 A.M., Thursday at Wilson Family Funeral Home, Minneapolis. Private services for family will begin at 1:00 and will be livestreamed via the Wilson Family Funeral Home Facebook page. Burial will be in the Bennington Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Bennington Fire or E.M.S. and may be mailed to Wilson Family Funeral Home, 405 Argyle Ave., Minneapolis, KS 67467.