Memorable Manitobans: Francis Campbell “Frank” Bell (1892-1968)

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Francis Campbell Bell
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Banker, municipal official, MLA (1937-1940), MLA (1941-1945), MLA (1946-1949), MLA (1950-1953), MLA (1954-1957).

Born near Clearwater on 31 May 1892, son of Thomas Bell and Annie Edith Reynolds, brother of James Reynolds Bell, he was educated at Clearwater School. During the First World War, he spent three years with Canadian Expeditionary Force. On his return, he became manager of the Union Bank at Rosebank, later transferred to McAuley. He then became Secretary-Treasurer of the Rural Municipality of Archie. In 1920, he was a member of the Municipal Civic Service Board.

On 31 March 1916, he married Eva Wright Rumball (1894-1957, daughter of Mark C. Rumball) and they had three daughters: Gwendolyn Ruth Bell, Roberta Jean Bell, and Helen Marion Bell. Elected to the Manitoba Legislature in the 1936 general election, he was re-elected or acclaimed in 1941, 1945, 1949, and 1953. He held various ministerial portfolios, including Agriculture (1948-1952), Health and Public Welfare (1952-1955), Public Works (1955-1956), and Mines and Natural Resources (1956-1958). He was defeated in the 1958 general election.

He died at Winnipeg on 10 May 1968 and was buried in the Chapel Lawn Memorial Gardens.

Sources:

The Canadian Parliamentary Guide, 1938.

“Under The Golden Boy, Manitoba’s M.L.A.s,” Winnipeg Tribune, 20 March 1943. [Manitoba Legislative Library, Biographical Scrapbook B9, page 129]

Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 11 May 1968, page 31.

Members of the Legislative Assembly (deceased), Legislative Assembly of Manitoba.

We thank Darryl Toews for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 2 July 2022

Memorable Manitobans

Memorable Manitobans

This is a collection of noteworthy Manitobans from the past, compiled by the Manitoba Historical Society. We acknowledge that the collection contains both reputable and disreputable people. All are worth remembering as a lesson to future generations.

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