Stella Belle (Neill) Russell

Stella Belle Russell, 77, of Newton died on Monday, May 11, 2026, at MercyOne Newton Medical Center.  A celebration of her life visitation will be held from 1-3 p.m., Wednesday, May 27, at the Wallace Family Funeral Home and Crematory. From 2:30-3 p.m., there will be a time of sharing.  Memorials to Wesley Life Hospice may be left at the funeral home.

Stella, the daughter of Vernon and Audrey (Brown) Neill, was born on April 22, 1949, in Bloomfield, Iowa.  She grew up in Bloomfield and graduated from Bloomfield High School in 1967.  As an adult, she would live in many different communities in Iowa.  In those communities she was always active of the Methodist church, especially using her love of singing to sing in the choirs.  In the summer of 1987, Stella was united in marriage with Roger Russell in Colorado.  They would move to North Dakota later that summer.  In 1996, Stella would move to Newton, Iowa anticipating the birth of her first grandchild.  Over the next years, she would lovingly provide daycare for all four of her grandchildren.  Most recently she was attending the Pleasant View Methodist Church.  Stella was an avid reader.

Stella is survived by her children, Ron (Jennifer) Cook of Newton, Lori (Todd) DeVries of Newton, and Paul (Leann) Cook of Grand Forks, North Dakota; grandchildren, Sean (Tiffany) Cook, Sara (Jacob) Halferty, Anna DeVries, and Ellie DeVries; her great-grandchildren, Casey, Harvey, Penny, and Ross; and sister-in-law, Barb Neill of Ottumwa.   She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Roger Russell; and two brothers, Vernon (Cynthia) Neill, Jr. and Charles Neill.

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