Former Kenai resident Linda Joyce Bell died Thursday, March 20, 2008, at Hospice House in Kennewick, Wash., following an extended illness. She was 55.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 26, at Kennewick First Christian Church.

Ms. Bell was born Dec. 14, 1952, in Billings, Mont., to Myron and Fay Montney. After growing up in Montana and Portland, Ore., she moved to Alaska with her family, where she lived for nearly 30 years. Fairbanks, Anchorage, Kodiak and eventually, Kenai were all home at some point in her Alaska experience.

For 25 years, Ms. Bell worked as a controller and human resource director for Morris Newspapers with her home office at the Peninsula Clarion in Kenai. An early retirement and desire to be close to her extended family took her to Washington state.

"Linda loved living in Alaska, much preferring the snow to, in her view, the 'excessive heat' of the Lower 48. In her opinion, any temperature above 68 was cause for concern. Though her retirement there was shorter than all desired, during this reunion with her immediate family she enriched their lives enormously with her quick wit and generous nature," her family said.

"She had the good fortune to work with many kind and selfless friends and colleagues at the Clarion during her long association with the newspaper, for which her family extends its grateful appreciation."

Ms. Bell was preceded in death by her father.

She is survived by her children, formerly of Alaska, Michelle Brinegar of Kennewick and Shawn Bell of Vancouver, Wash.; grandchildren, Brianne Todd, Michael Todd and Andrew Bell; mother, Fay Montney of Kennewick; sisters, Barbara Kakalecik of Great Falls, Mont., Pauline Kier of Temple, Texas, and Brenda Montney of Cheney, Wash.; and brothers, Wayne Montney of Bloomington, Ill., and Warren Montney, of Richland, Wash.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Ms. Bell's name to hospice.

Funeral arrangements were made by Hillcrest Memorial Center of the Tri Cities in Kennewick.