Mary "Lenore" Peterson Bell, age 89, of Edgemont, SD, passed away July 4, 2015, at the Rapid City Regional Hospital, Rapid City, SD.

Mary Lenore Sheaman was born on September 20, 1925, to Harry and Mary Marie (Andersen) Sheaman in Mule Creek, WY. She attended rural schools in South Dakota and Wyoming through the 10th grade and graduated from Edgemont High School in 1943. After graduation, she attended one year of nursing school in Lincoln, NE, but decided nursing was not for her. She worked as a clerk-typist at Igloo, SD, from 1944 to 1946.

On May 24, 1946, Lenore married Francis Albert Peterson in Edgemont. They lived on the ranch near Burdock, SD. To this union, three children were born; Judy Lenore in 1947, Wayne Francis in 1948, and Bruce Leonard in 1949. Francis passed away on September 21, 1969. Lenore married Walter James "Jim" Bell at the home of her parents in Edgemont, on July 24, 1987. She became a loving parent to Jim's adult children; James, Bill, and Rocky, as well as their children and grandchildren.

Lenore was a member of the extension club at Burdock for over 20 years, she was initiated to the Rebekah Lodge on 2/20/1945; was a member for over 70 years. Lenore was also a member of the Town & Ranchers Conservation Club (Sportsman's Club). She was renown for her skill of making and decorating cakes for weddings and other occasions. There were always cookies at her house and that were received as gifts by her family on special occasions. She embroidered, worked on jigsaw puzzles, and loved to work crossword puzzles. In 1985, Lenore made her first quilt for granddaughter, Christy Peterson. Since then, she has made quilts for every family member. And there are still more quilts hanging in her closet!

Lenore is survived by her daughter, Judy ("Cap") Ferguson of Silt, CO; son, Wayne Peterson of Edgemont; son, Bruce (Cathy) Peterson of Chadron, NE; stepsons, James (Patty) Bell of Berea, NE; Bill (Carol) Bell and Rocky (Kathy) Bell all of Alliance, NE; grand-children and step-grandchildren, Sheila Ferguson, Silt, CO; Lynette (Jeff) Satterfield, Parachute, CO; Travis (Chasity) Ferguson, Grand Junction, CO; Jeff Peterson, Todd (Holly) Peterson, of Edgemont; Christy (Eddie) Quijada, Nashville, TN; David Peterson, Nashville, TN; Jesse Bell, Josh Bell, Chad (Valery) Bell, Alliance, NE; Liberty (Jesse) Robbins, Cheyenne, WY; Jamie (Jeff) Lange, Kearney, NE; Charlie (Courtney) Bell, Gering, NE; Brandon (Angie) Bell, Burbank, CA; Holly (Rafael) Guerrero, Denton, TX; great-grandchildren, Quirt Satterfield, Fort Collins, CO; Kegan Satterfield, Fort Carson, CO; Abby Ferguson, Silt, CO; Kelcey Satterfield, Grand Junction, CO; Aydin and Justyn Ferguson, Grand Junction, CO; Maddie Peterson, Morgan and Braden Peterson, Edgemont; Tanner and Shaun Sprayberry, Nashville, TN; Kerrie Peterson, Nashville, TN; Devin and Damian Bell, Gavin and Gattlen Bell, Alliance, NE; Sadie and Browning Robbins, Cheyenne, WY; Avery and Malina Lange, Kearney, NE; Aiden, Ayler, Asher, Axton Bell, Gering, NE; Carter Bell, Burbank, CA; Giovanni and Raylon Guerrero, Denton, TX. She is also survived by longtime friend, Debrah Anderson.


Lenore was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Leonard Sheaman; husbands, Francis Peterson and Jim Bell.


Committal services will be held 10:00 a.m., Monday, July 13, 2015, at the Edgemont Cemetery, with Pastor David Andersen officiating. Following the committal services there will be a time of fellowship at the IOOF Hall in Edgemont.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established in Lenore's name and may be sent to the family.