LeahBelle Neil

LeahBelle "Mitchell-Strain" Neil died March 2, 2013, at Junction Creek Rehabilitation Center, following a short illness. She was 88 years old. LeahBelle was born to Elmer and Fronie Mitchell October 7, 1924, on a family farm near Bayfield. She attended Missouri Center one-room school through sixth grade. She graduated from Bayfield High School in 1941. She then trained in Denver to be a beautician. During World War II she was a clerk typist at Lockheed Aircraft Plant in Burbank, Calif. In 1946 LeahBelle married Oscar Strain, Jr. They moved to Ft. Collins where Oscar completed his education at Colorado A & M College. LeahBelle received her PHT (putting husband through) by working for Mountain Bell. They returned to Ignacio and bought the ranch Oscar was born on. Oscar died in 1977. LeahBelle continued to live on the Strain Ranch. During her years as a widow LeahBelle trained and worked with Child Evangelism Fellowship. She also was involved with Campus Crusade for Christ and Wycliff Bible Translators. LeahBelle enjoyed traveling to lands of the Bible such as Israel, Greece and Egypt. She knew and supported several missionaries. She enjoyed and participated in gospel music, serving as pianist in several area churches. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Ignacio. In 1986 LeahBelle married Joe Neil and they lived in the Ignacio area until her death. The Neils served with a group called Roving Volunteers in Christ's Service (RVICS) for a short period of time. They enjoyed mountain trail rides, traveling and their church. LeahBelle is survived by her husband, Joe Neil, of Ignacio; and one daughter, Rita Bridget Howard, of Spirit Lake, Idaho; several grandchildren and stepchildren, and a double cousin, Leta Sauer. She is preceded in death by her son, Ty Strain, one sister, Louetta, and a brother, Evert Mitchell. Evert was a bomber pilot in WWII and was lost over Japan. Memorial services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, March 8, 2013, at Pine River Valley Baptist Church. Her ashes will be placed at the Ignacio East Cemetery in a private family service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 152, Ignacio, CO 81137.