Stephen ‘Steve’ Frederick Bell, 73

Stephen ‘Steve’ Frederick Bell lived a full life that positively impacted many people and the world. He was a son, father, husband and brother, as well as a lawyer, activist, missionary and fierce individualist. In Coeur d’Alene he was known for playing music to the homeless, organizing overnight campouts to raise awareness on homelessness, wearing funny hats and tirelessly running around town, training for his next marathon or race.

Steve was born March 3, 1946, in Washington D.C., but was raised in Moscow, Idaho, by his parents, George and Maurine Bell. George was an author, lawyer and professor of law at the University of Idaho and Maurine was a devoted mother, member of the LDS church and a community member. Steve graduated from Moscow High School in 1964. He went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in business from the University of Idaho in 1968, and later, in 1971, a Juris Doctor from The University of Montana School of Law.

Steve dedicated his career to helping others and practiced law for more than four decades in North Idaho within the public sphere as a prosecutor and defense attorney, and then later, in private practice doing family, bankruptcy, probate, environmental and pro bono legal work. His greatest professional accomplishments are protecting Tubbs Hill and the Third Street boat launch from privatization as well as initiatives to design safer roads and promote anti-texting-while-driving laws.

Beyond his profession, Steve had four wives throughout his life, all of whom he loved. Their names are Charlotte Bouley, Betty Stone, Nancy Lee and Karen Morris, the last of whom was mother to his son, Shane Bell.

Running marathons, skiing, traveling the world, doing missions trips to Tecate, Mexico, playing his guitar at church, volunteering at soup kitchens, reading, writing, and collecting antiques were all passions of Steve’s. He was also a vocal and proud member of Alcoholics Anonymous, a paid speaker for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), and a contributor to the Coeur d’Alene Press. He loved filling his days with engaging people and his nights with good music, books and his beloved dogs, River and Bella.

Steve is survived by his two brothers, George and Dwight Bell; his niece and nephews; and his son, Shane (Rebekah) Bell. Steve died at the age of 73, while in hospice care on Dec. 1, 2019, after struggling with cancer; his son, daughter-in-law and close friends were at his side.

All who care about him and love him are invited to his funeral, which will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21, 2019, at First Presbyterian Church of Coeur d’Alene. In lieu of flowers, please donate in his memory to NAMI by visiting donate.nami.org/SteveBell