Our dearly loved husband and father, Neil, passed away Dec 27, 2025. He grew up in rural Dalton, MN and graduated from Underwood High School Class of 75, where he played football, basketball, and American Legion baseball.  He was able to recall all of his wins/ losses and scores of his basketball games for many years.  After high school, he enlisted in the United States Air Force and was on active duty Sept 1976 - May 1978 as an ammunition specialist on B52 planes, then transferred to the Air National Guard and Reserves until his discharge with honorable conditions May 1980.

Neil married his high school sweetheart Oct 28,1978 and at 19 and 20 years old, they moved to Apple Valley near the Twin Cities to begin their life together and raised their two children. He worked for KMart Distribution Center in Shakopee for several years until enrolling at Dunwoody Institute, graduating with his Associate of Applied Science Degree in 1995,  with his degree in HVAC Systems Design Technology.  He began working for Roberts Hamilton, a wholesale heating and air company in sales, with a territory in southern Minnesota. He excelled further in his career selling residential heating and air equipment for Lofgren Heating and Air in Apple Valley from April 2006 - December 2025.

Neil's greatest joy was his family and his motivation to provide for his family. He was devoted to putting his family's needs before his own. He had a wonderful sense of humor and loved to tell jokes and some of them were not that funny, but we would still laugh.  He loved to cook and was the best grill master. He loved watching Minnesota sports teams Gophers, Timberwolves, Vikings, and Twins. The saying went "There is always next year." He was a member of Destiny Christian Church in Burnsville for 20 years and was very involved and sang in the choir and enjoyed listening to music".  He became a member of Living Word Christian Center in Brooklyn Park in 2018, and this is where his passion for missions and global church planting grew. He had Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior.

He loved his lake lot on West Silent Lake in West Central Minnesota and always looked forward to spending time with family fishing, boating, and bonfires. He called it his Solitude on Silent .

Preceded in death were his parents Lyle Chell and Doris Bergman Chell, and sister Betty Heinen.

Survived by his wife Beth of 47 years, his daughter Carly, and son Cody of Apple Valley. His brother Orlyn (Patti) Chell, sister Diane (Willie) Tverberg, and sister Dorene (Ken) Thomas.  Also, by many other relatives and friends.

His Celebration of Life gathering will be held Friday January 30, 2026 from 5-8 pm at White Funeral Home, located at 14560 Pennock Avenue, Apple Valley, MN.

Memorials will be donated to Living Word Christian Church for missions and global church planting.

Condolences at whitefuneralhomes.com