1921 – 2015

DIXON, Ill. — Lionel “G Bell” Belanger, age 94, formerly of Washington St., and a resident of Rumford for much of his life, died peacefully on Monday, Oct. 20, at the Liberty Court Senior Living facility in Dixon, Ill., where he had been in declining health.

He was born on June 5, 1921, on Waldo Street in Rumford, to Omer and Roseanna (Levasseur) Belanger, and resided there with his family for many years. He was educated in Rumford schools and was a graduate of Stephens High School Class of 1939.

He served in the U.S. Army during World War II and retired from the Army National Guard, achieving the rank of Staff Sgt. G Bell was employed with Boise Cascade for 39 years as a foreman in the stockroom. He was a communicant of the Parish of the Holy Savior.

In 1948, G Bell was wed to a Ferland twin, Annette, who was his loving and adoring companion for 57 years until her death in 2005. He was an active member of local fraternal clubs, holding lifetime memberships in the Elks, VFW and the American Legion chapters in both Rumford and Dixon, Ill., and in Le Paresseux Snowshoe Club and the Fraternal Order of Eagles.

Hunting and fishing were his lifelong passions, sharing camps with his hunting brethren at C Pond, Eustis and Northeast Carry on Moosehead. Closer to home, there were countless day trips to rabbit hunt with his favorite beagles in the thickets of East B Hill, East Andover, Bryant Pond, Jim Pond and Tumbledown. And there were multiple crossings to troll for pickerel while at the family camp on Sunset Cove. He was no stranger to South Arm, Rangeley, Mooselook and countless area streams.

When he was not hunting or fishing, he was berrying, and gathering apples and fiddleheads in season.

He was an experienced cook who catered many events at the Elks, where he also prided himself in winning bumper pool championships against younger competition. Known for his signature ball cap and not necessarily that of the hometown team he loved to love or hate (he never missed a Red Sox game or a Pats game), G Bell was known to belt out “My Way” whenever the opportunity arose.

He is survived by his sister, Lucille O’Leary of Topsham; a daughter, Rachelle and husband, Michael Radke, of Dixon, Ill.; a son, Richard of Rabat, Morocco and Troy, N.Y.; two grandsons, Tom and his wife, Susie Radke, of Henderson, Nev., and Patrick Belanger of New York, N.Y.; three granddaughters, Jennifer Belanger of New York, N.Y., Lisa and husband, Jason Schryver, of Glen Ellyn, Ill., and Christie Belanger of New York, N.Y.; one great-granddaughter, Alyxandria Radke, of Flagstaff, Ariz.; and a very special nephew, David (Joan) Parise of Rye, N.H.

He was predeceased by his parents; his wife Annette (Ferland) Belanger; and a brother, Robert “Dub” Belanger.

You are invited to share your thoughts, condolences, and fond memories with the family by visiting their guestbook at www.sgthibaultfuneralhome.com.