Anita M. Powers

Anita M. Powers, 87, of Trent, SD passed away Wednesday, December 9, 2009 at Avera Dells Area Health Center.

Funeral services will begin at 11:00 AM Monday, December 14, 2009 at Messiah Lutheran Church, rural Trent. Burial will be in Hills of Rest Memorial Park Cemetery in Sioux Falls.

Visitation will be at 2:00 PM with the family present from 3 to 5:00 PM Sunday at Minnehaha Funeral Home in Dell Rapids.

Anita was born October 31, 1922 at Ft. Pierre, South Dakota to parents Martin and Lucille (Gigg) Carlson. She spent her early years growing up on a ranch in between Ft. Pierre and Presho, attending school in Ft. Pierre. Anita moved with her family to Sioux Falls in 1937. She attended Washington Senior High School, graduating in 1940. She expanded her education at General Beadle College in Madison and received a Teaching Certificate. She taught country school at Pleasant Ridge School in District 56 near Renner, South Dakota. She also was employed at Kennedy’s Camera Shop and Harold’s Photography in Sioux Falls.

Anita married Albert Powers December 6, 1946 in Sioux Falls. The couple started farming in 1948 near Sioux Falls before moving to their farm near Trent, South Dakota in 1951. They were blessed with three boys.

Anita enjoyed gardening, especially raising flowers as well as working with crafts. She incorporated these hobbies into a small business called Anita’s Plants and Things. Anita exhibited flowers, plants and homemade preserves at the Sioux Empire Fair and South Dakota State Fair for many years. She also liked spending time with family and traveling. She was a member of Messiah Lutheran Church and a life long member of the American Legion Auxiliary in Trent.

Grateful for having shared her life are her husband, Albert, Trent; three sons, David Powers, Lawrence, KS; Thomas Powers, Denver, CO; and Michael ( fiancé, Carie Jo) Powers, Pahrump, NV; nine grandchildren, Marcia, Martin, Mark, Nichole, Jeremy, Travis, Tracy, Jodie and Kelly; ten great-grandchildren; brother, Elwood Carlson, Sioux Falls; brother-in-law, Russell (Donna) Powers, Boone, IA; sister-in-law, Barbara Halbersma, Brandon, SD; and many other relatives and friends.

Anita was preceded in death by her parents and a sister, Patricia Hall.