Thomas Bell, 69, of Brookings, passed away on Sunday, May 29, 2022, at his residence following a brief illness.  A time of visitation will be held on Friday, June 3, 2022, from 10:00 A.M. until 12:00 P.M. at Eidsness Funeral Home in Brookings.  A private family celebration of life will take place at a future date.

Thomas Richard Bell was born on May 25th, 1953. He spent his early childhood in Saint Paul, MN. Thomas' mother married the late John Bell II who adopted Tom shortly thereafter. At an early age, Thomas was involved in is dad's car dealership, Bell Motors, where he developed a lifelong passion for cars, especially Corvettes. Thomas spent his childhood and adolescence moving between Minnesota and South Dakota and eventually graduated from Brookings High School in 1972. After high school, Thomas joined the Air Force. Upon returning home, he began working at 3M where he met the love of his life, Mary. Mary and Thomas were united in marriage on December 7th 1974. They were blessed with three children, Dusty, Abby, and Casey. During the remainder of his working career, Thomas took business classes at South Dakota State University and the University of Sioux Falls, worked as a foreman at Prunty Construction, as a job coach at Advance, coached the South Dakota State University Blades hockey team, and conducted quality control at Larsons. He retired as a bus driver for the Brookings School District in 2013.

While growing up in Minnesota, Thomas enjoyed spending time on Turtle Lake with his immediate and extended family. His love for the lake and open waters carried into his adulthood where Mary and Tom eventually purchased a cabin on Lake Poinsett. They considered this their "every weekend vacation." Mary and Tom also shared a love for music and owned a record store, Under-A-Bit Records, for half a decade. Until the day he passed, you could find Tom in his barroom jamming to tunes and playing the air drums. Thomas' love for his family could be found in his well-timed dad jokes, grilling a smorgasbord of meals, caring for his animals, and keeping the campfire burning where family and friends could share in conversations, music, and laughter. He had a special connection with his three grandchildren who would help him tend to the garden and enjoy the perfect afternoon popsicle.

Thomas is survived by his wife, Mary Bell, of Brookings, SD; his three children, Dustin (Angela) Bell of Aurora, SD, Abby Bell of Brookings, SD, Casey (Elizabeth) Bell of Brookings, SD; three grandchildren, Peyton Bell, Greyson Bell, and Eleyna Bell; sisters Susan Bell of Burnsville, MN, and Kathy Gabrielson of Britt, IA; along with a host of in-laws, aunt and uncle, cousins, nieces, nephews, and many friends.

Thomas was preceded in death by his mother, Kathryn Bell; father, John Bell II; stepmother, Donna Bell; and brother, John Bell III.