Berneda Anna Bell was born August 22, 1930 in Otoe, Nebraska, the daughter of Herman and Anna Folken.  She passed to her heavenly home on May 2, 2025, at the age of 94.

Berneda married Lewis Jackson “Jack” Bell, February 28, 1953 in Kermit, Texas after meeting on a blind date and  they were happily married for 63 years.  They had two children, Sharon Diane Sliger and Jack Randall Bell.  Berneda was very much a people person who loved everyone she met and never met a stranger.  Berneda enjoyed her banking career having worked at First Bank & Trust before going to Idabel, Oklahoma and working for 1st State Bank.  She was then hired to manage a savings and loan in Idabel, Oklahoma before she retired.   

Berneda was a member of the professional women’s while working in the banking industry for more than 30 years.  Berneda was always known for her entertaining and was thankful when her husband built her a big home so she could host wedding and baby showers and have a lot of family reunions in her home which often had over a 100 in attendance.  Berneda was also a life time member of the Order of Eastern Star.   While working full time, she enjoyed making birthday cakes for lots of friends and her husband had even built her a “cake decorating” separate kitchen so she could enjoy her craft.  Berneda never met a stranger and made a new friend whenever she would be out and about.  Once you met her, she was unforgettable, because she loved people.  Berneda was also a wonderful cook and entertainer.  With family and friends, there was usually over a 100 in attendance and her home was always welcome to anyone and everyone that wanted to stop by and chat awhile.   If you happened to hit a time when she had treats made, you would definitely have some to take home with you.  Berneda was a very giving lady and loved to see smiles on faces when she gave her goodies away. 

She loved Lukfata Baptist Church and was there every time the doors were open until her 90’s when she watched her church service faithfully on her iPad. 

Berneda was preceded in death by her husband, Lewis Jackson, “Jack”, her parents, Herman and Anna Folken; sister, Betty Leuenberger, and brother, Leroy Folken. and her very best friend, Mary Kay Thrasher and Larry Brinkley, whom she lovingly called her adopted son.

She is survived by her daughter, Sharon Sliger, of the home, son, Jack Randall Bell and wife Michelle of Weatherford, Texas, brother, R.L.(Leland) Folken and wife LaVita of Minneapolis, Minnesota.  She has 4 grandchildren; Jaclyn Tyler and husband Jon of Jacksonville, Texas; Jenny Melchor of Jacksonville, Texas; Rachel Bell of Weatherford, Texas and Matthew Bell of Weatherford, Texas.  great grandson, Bradley Melchor, of Belton, Texas.

Visitation will be held Lukfata Baptist Church at 1 p.m... on May 4th, 2025.

Funeral service will be at Lukfata Baptist Church at 2 p.m.on Sunday, May 4th, 2025 with Gary Hawkins and Pete Wilson officiating and burial in the Denison Cemetery in Idabel, Oklahoma.