Ervin A. Powell

Ervin A. Powell, 100, of Polson, passed away on Friday, April 29 at St. Joseph Medical Center in Polson.

Ervin was born in Belfry, Mont. on February 28, 1911, a son of James and Matilda Powell. Ervin’s grandfather came out west on a wagon train from Missouri to Utah.

The family migrated to Belfry, then later on to Butte. When Ervin was five, the family road the stagecoach to Polson. The family owned a horse and buggy until the automobile hit the market and they then had a Model T.

Ervin joined the United States Navy when he was 30 and dutifully served in the South Pacific during WWII until his honorable discharge. He worked at Gamble’s and Safeway and then worked his way up in the U.S. Postal Service serving as Postmaster for nearly 10 years.

In 100 years, Ervin lived in five homes in Polson, the first of which was a houseboat. Two of the homes he built himself and both of them are still standing.

Golf was Ervin’s passion and he finally quit the game when he was 98. In the 70 years of golfing, Ervin had 13 hole-in-one’s. He also loved gardening and raised all of his own vegetables including his delicious corn, tomatoes, and strawberries, all of which he was so proud of.

Ervin was a “snowbird” and spent the winters in Mesa, Ariz. for 31 years. He loved going to Mesa and would always drive there up until he flew there last year at the age of 99.

Besides his parents, Ervin is preceded in death by a brother, Stanley Powell, and a sister, Iva Bethurem.

Survivors include his loving daughter, Kay Chavez; two wonderful grandsons, Mike and Mark Smith; a granddaughter, Kim Smith; five great-grandchildren, Chris, Sam, Soven, Nathan, and Sienna; many nieces, including Yvonne Anderson who checked on him regularly; great-nieces, including Debbie Slack, who was like a second daughter to him; many special golf buddies, his neighbors, Elaine and Ellen Streetmatter who were always there to check on him, and Tish and Bob in Mesa, who treated him like their own. His family will miss him deeply.

Graveside services with military honors were held on Tuesday, May 3 at Lakeview Cemetery, Polson.

Messages of condolence may be sent to the family online at www.groganfuneralhome.com. The staff of Grogan Funeral Home and Crematory, Polson, considers it a privilege to care for Mr. Powell’s family.