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- Underground Gold Miners Museum
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
STEVEN CHARLES BELL
February 17, 1968 – January 25, 2026
Steven was born in Simi Valley, California to Don and Audrey Bell. The family (parents and four kids) moved to Northern California in 1974 to pursue Don Bell’s gold mining ambitions and to get out of suburbia. In 1975 the family moved to the Mott Cabin at The Ruby Mine located (as the crow flies) between the towns of Alleghany and Downieville. The drive to Alleghany was shorter than to Downieville, so Alleghany was where the family got mail and the kids went to school.
After two-years at the Mott Cabin, the family moved into Alleghany proper for a year, then in 1978 by serendipity, they landed at the Golden Bear Mine recently purchased by a new venture: Golden Lion Mining Corporation. The 1930s era bunkhouse was refurbished and made livable by the Golden Lion Mining Corporation owner, Alan Power. Don was the year-round caretaker and mining superintendent there for 13 years.
In those days, the 7-mile dirt road to the Golden Bear Mine was closed by snow for four to six months every year. The family relied on snowmobiles, Honda ATC 90s, skis and snowshoes for wintertime transportation. Alleghany School provided homework packets for times when even the snowmobile could not get out.
Steven started working with his dad underground around age 12. After he graduated from Pliocene Ridge School, he worked as a gold miner for many years in several different mines. Including the Golden Lion, Carson, Cincinnati, Ruby, Jap, Brush Creek and Sixteen to One in Alleghany.
Steven was very creative, writing and drawing from an early age. His first publication (age 12) was “Everything Magazine” featuring his hilarious cartoons and fake ads. Alleghany School let him make copies on the ditto machine and he sold them for a quarter each. In the early 2000s Steven started calling his poems “daily biscuits” then later simply “biscuits”. Wherever he went, he carried a stack of laminated biscuits [poems] asking whoever he met to randomly draw one, then he’d read it out loud.
Steven was a life-long hacky sack player creating a circle of friends wherever he was. He emanated love and acceptance, touching all who knew him. He marched to the beat of his own drum, drinking fully (maybe too fully) from life’s cup. The words moderation and responsibility were not part of his vocabulary, but he always found purpose and happiness wherever he landed.
Steven was preceded in death by his parents Don and Audrey, and his common-law wife Lisa Figueroa and their dog Frump. He is survived by his son and joy Christopher Steven Bell, Christopher’s mom Kim Bell, step kids Arraya, Destiny, Mason and Aleea. Siblings: Don (Cheryl) Bell, Jason (Monique) Bell and Pauline Rae Bell (David) Arbogast plus countless extended family members including his nieces and nephews, step-grandkids, cousins [scuzzins], and so many people who loved him dearly. Donations in Steven’s memory can be made to the Interfaith Food Ministry interfaithfoodministry.org or Underground Gold Miners Museum Support | Underground Gold Miners Museum
A CELEBRATION of Steven has been rescheduled to April 18, 2026 at the North San Juan Community Center, 29190 Hwy 49. Doors open at noon with ceremony starting around 2 pm. This is a POTLUCK, please bring a dish to share. Kitchen available for heating or refrigerating food. A memory book to write, draw or tape something into, will be there. Everyone is encouraged to dress flamboyantly in honor of Steven.
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