Obituary - Anita Evon Powers

Anita Evon Powers, 94, passed away Tuesday, September 3, 2019, at Ponderosa Villa in Crawford, Nebraska.

Cremation has taken place, and memorial services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, October 9, 2019, at Van Orsdel United Methodist Church with Pastor Mac McGrew officiating. Burial will follow in Highland Cemetery.

Anita suggested memorial donations be made to the North Central Senior Center, Hi-Line Boys & Girls Club, Van Orsdel United Methodist Church, Special Olympics, or the charity of the donor's choice.

Holland & Bonine Funeral Home has been entrusted with services and arrangements.

Please visit Anita's online memorial page and leave a message of condolence for her family at http://www.hollandbonine.com .

Anita was born June 18, 1925, in Sweet Grass, Montana, to Earl and Ida (Constable) Best. She attended school in Coots, Alberta, Canada, until the eighth grade. Her aunt and uncle, who were like her grandparents, brought her up in the church and, at a young age, helped provide her Christian foundation.

Anita attended high school in Sweet Grass and Sunburst, and she graduated from Cut Bank High School in 1943. She attended Northern Montana College, obtaining her degree in science, with Louis Hagener as her advisor. While working at the Texas Company in Cut Bank, Anita married Leo Powers October 7, 1945, at her parents' home.

She and Leo lived many places because of Leo's job with the railroad, including Sweet Grass, Clancy, Kevin, and finally Loring, where they remained for 13 years.

Anita went back to college and obtained her master's degree in education, with her first teaching job in Saco. The family moved to Havre in 1964, where Anita taught at Sunnyside and Lincoln-McKinley schools, retiring from teaching in 1986.

After retirement, Anita and Leo traveled many places. They celebrated their 47th anniversary in Palermo, Italy, and had 60 wonderful years together before Leo passed away in 2006. Her greatest pride was traveling to all of the continents in her lifetime, with her latest travel experience being Antarctica in January of 2009.

Anita was a member of the Montana Retired Educator's Association, the Rebeccas, and the North Central Senior Center. She enjoyed baking, oil painting, reading and crocheting, and dearly loved children. She was also a devoted member of Van Orsdel United Methodist Church.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Leo Powers; daughter Meriam McMullen; four grandchildren; parents, Earl and Ida Best; sister Jane Darner; and brother Junior Duane Best.

Anita is survived by her daughter Dawnelda Hilbe of Essex; son John (Doreen) Powers of Alliance, NE; eight grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; five step-great-grandchildren; sisters Audrey Johnson Nivens of Billings, and Joyce Hartl of Sundance, WY; brother Jay Best of Salt Lake City, UT; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.