Thomas C. Powell

LEWISTOWN - Thomas Clarke Powell, 85, died Friday, April 1, at a Billings hospital, of complications from heart disease.
A vigil is 7 p.m. Friday at St. Leo's Catholic Church. Funeral Liturgy is 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Leo's, followed by burial with military honors in Mount Calvary Cemetery. Creel Funeral Home of Lewistown is in charge of arrangements.
Tom passed away surrounded by his family.
Tom was born Aug. 24, 1925, in Washington, Pa., to William Dodd and Marie (Fischer) Powell. He received his education in Eighty Four, Pa., and attended Trinity High School in Washington, Pa.
He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1943, serving during World War II in the European Theater. He was honorably discharged in March 1946.
He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1947, serving as an air transport technician. He was honorably discharged in 1950 as a corporal. He then joined the Army Corps of Engineer Reserves from 1951 to 1954.
On Jan. 9, 1954, in Lewistown, he was united in marriage to Denise Paul.
He joined the Lewistown Police Department in 1954, retiring in 1974. Following his retirement, he drove truck for Central Feed, McDonald Ready Mix and Bud Dengel Construction. He retired from driving truck in 2001.
He was a member of St. Leo's Catholic Church, the American Legion and VFW, Crimestoppers, the Retired Police Officers Association and was a proud veteran of World War II.
He enjoyed hunting, fishing, woodworking, gunsmithing, gardening, camping and teaching his family to fish and hunt. Tom dearly loved his family and will be missed by all.
Survivors include his wife, Denise Powell of Lewistown; three children, Cherilynn (Kenneth) Hagen of Billings, Thomas F. Powell of Spokane, Wash., and Michelle (Ronald) Anderson of Lewistown; seven grandchildren: Scott Hagen of Billings, Amy (Kirk) Farris of Boise, Idaho, Kristin (Chris) Hagen of Missoula, Mont., Jennifer (Jacob) Hachmeister of Portland, Ore., Erik (Stephanie) Anderson of Lewistown, Melissa Powell of Las Vegas, Nev., Regina (Damon) Allen of Las Vegas; and great-grandchildren: Blake and Cole Hachmeister of Portland, Ore., Charlie Farris and a great-granddaughter, Mae Farris, who will be born in June in Boise, and Halle Vise of Lewistown.
In addition, Tom is survived by three sisters, Ellen Jane (Frank) Schussler of Washington, Pa., Margaret Ann (Robert) Berry of Cannonsburg, Pa., and Beverly Jean (Richard) Campbell of Hickory, Pa.; four brothers, William Dodd (Ann) Powell, Jr. of Salina, Kan., Donald (Claire) Powell of Eighty Four, Pa., Harry Edward (Linda) Powell of Republic, Pa., and Howard Powell of Meadowlands, Pa.; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by four brothers, George, Jack, James and Richard; two sisters, Elsie Dickson and Mary Lou Schurr; and his parents.
Memorials are suggested to Central Montana Medical Center Cardiac Rehab; Hospice of Central Montana; or to the charity of the donor's choice, and may be left at the funeral home.
Condolences may be posted online at www.gftribune.com/obituaries.