Laura arrived in Boulder City in 1940 with her husband Vernan Bell, a traffic foreman with Manganese Inc. A social science and journalism graduate of Stanford University’s class of 1926, Laura held a position as Assistant Editor for the Winnnemuca Star in Southern Nevada before moving to Boulder City with her husband to raise their three children Dorothy, Judy and Norman.

Laura’s writings consisted primarily of her Southwestern cowgirl life in mining and farming. She wrote and sold articles to the San Jose Mercury Herald, the Christian Science Monitor, and the Desert and Ford Magazines. Laura was most influential as correspondent for the “Boulder Journal;” the special Boulder City section of the Las Vegas Sun. Laura held her position at the Las Vegas Sun for 10 years.

Appointed Postmaster of Boulder City in 1962 by President Kennedy, Laura served her position until 1973. During her life in Boulder City, Laura served on the Boulder City Hospital, Library and Girl Scout Council Boards, was a member of the Nevada State Fulbright Scholarship Committee, the Business and Professional Women’s Club, Democratic Women’s Club, and the American Association of University Women.

Laura retired and moved back to California in 1980 to be near her family, where she continued writing about her life’s adventures well into her retirement. Traveling to visit her children, grand-children and friends around the country became her new adventure. Laura went on to marry her late husband’s brother and lived happily there until her death in 1998.

Although she was not native to Boulder City, Laura found an incredible family within the community and touched all she knew.