BUSHTON — Ronald Wayne “Ron” Bell, 85, of Bushton, Kan., passed away April 22, 2024, at Sandstone Heights Nursing Home, Little River, Kan. He was born July 1, 1938, in Russell, Kan., the son of Elmer and Ruby (Perkins) Bell. 

Ron has resided in Bushton since 1975. He graduated from Plainville High School, Plainville, Kan., with the class of 1956. He served in the United States Army for over 31 years, six of those years was active service. Ron worked as a police marshal in Bushton in the 1970’s and 1980’s and later retired from the Sporting Goods Department at Wal-Mart in Great Bend, Kan. He was a member of the Higher Praise Chapel in Sterling, Kan. Ron was a hunter safety instructor and little league baseball coach. He enjoyed bowling, fishing, hunting, playing softball on the Bushton Merchant team, and going to the Chase County Lake with his family. On June 30, 1963, Ron was united in marriage with Patricia Brott in Junction City, Kan. 

He is survived by his wife, Patricia Bell of Little River, Kan.; three children, Richard Bell and wife Lori of El Dorado, Kan., Becky Behnke and husband Steve of Lyons, Kan., and Jeff Bell and wife Cathy of Bella Vista, Ark.; sister, Diane Cunningham of Strong City, Kan.; ten grandchildren, Amber, Paige, Jennifer, Sarah, Alyvia, Jacob, Jared, Stacey, Zac, and Courtney; nine great-grandchildren with one on the way; and numerous nieces and nephews. Ron is preceded in death by his parents; son, Daniel Wayne Bell; and sister, Darlene Kasselman. 

Graveside service will be at 1:30 p.m., Saturday, April 27, 2024, at Bushton-Farmer Township Cemetery, Bushton, with Pastor Curtis Fitzgerald officiating. Memorials may be given to Bushton Proud in care of Birzer Funeral Home, Lyons.

Funeral arrangements provided by

Birzer Funeral Home,

214 West Avenue South 

Lyons, KS 67554

Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, April 25, 2024