Ada Deane Bell, a healer, loving wife, artist and dear friend to many in the Wood River Valley, passed away with grace peacefully on Jan. 27 at her home after a long illness at the age of 67. Ada had an inner light, and lived her life finding the good in people. A memorial will be held on Saturday, Feb. 5, at 3 p.m. at Light on the Mountain Center for Spiritual Living.
Ada was born in Burley, Idaho, on July 25, 1943, to Jay and Grace Harper Nielsen, and grew up on a small farm west of Rupert where her mother gardened and raised animals. She married Steven Platts in 1961. They had three children and stayed good friends after separating in 1971. Ada attended College of Southern Idaho and worked for the Blue Lakes Trout Farm in Twin Falls, Idaho, until she met Jock Bell. They farmed 500 acres together with Ada's two sons, and in 1976 purchased the Sun Inn in Ketchum, Idaho, hiking, rock hounding, playing tennis, skiing and backpacking. They were married in 1983 and traveled across the United States and Canada promoting Trinity Water and vacationing in Hawaii, Jamaica and the Virgin Islands.
As a massage therapist and intuitive healer, Ada gave many people relief from pain and illness. She enjoyed reading, singing harmony, dancing and having a good laugh. Most recently she worked for the Hailey Public Library.
Her greatest love was her family and friends. She is survived by her devoted husband, Jock; children, Bonnie Angle (Jonathan), Glade Platts (Lisa), Phillip Platts and stepson Jason Bell (Wendi); grandchildren, Spencer, Cody, Megan, Shane, Jacob and Tyler; step-grandchildren, Jake and Elizabeth (Milton); and great-step-grandchildren, Ted and Billy. She is also survived by her siblings, Suzanne Nielsen, Jay "Larry" Nielsen and Sylvia Green, and many nieces and nephews, including Nathan, Nicholas and Natalie Green.
Also dear to Ada's heart were Bill Green, Brent Rasmussen, Steve and Phyllis Platts and Paul and Jacqueline Guymon. Members of her dearly loved Dream Group met and shared their lives for 25 years, providing a continuous caring circle. In addition, her family at Light on the Mountains was a support and source of love to Ada, as were her co-workers at the Hailey Public Library.
