Lyle Powell

Monday, August 17, 2009
Lyle Powell

C. Lyle Powell, 88, of Mountain Home, passed away in a local nursing home on Sunday, Aug. 16, 2009.

Funeral Services will be held on Friday, Aug. 21, 2009, at 2:30 p.m. at Rost Funeral Home, McMurtrey Chapel, burial will follow at Mountain View Cemetery.

Lyle was born to Guy and Edna Powell on April 15, 1921, in Cambridge, Neb., and in 1937 the family moved to Meridian.

Music was a Powell family activity as Lyle grew up. His dad, being an excellent fiddle player, consequently taught Merna, Ruth, Lyle and Lloyd to play instruments. The family played for many social functions and radio broadcasts.

From 1938-1942, Lyle worked in CCC road work, operating heavy equipment, mined in Atlanta and worked on the construction of Anderson Dam.

In 1943, Lyle bought the Smith Prairie Store. Now gainfully employed, he married Dorothy Engelman of Prairie on Jan. 25, 1944. He and Dorothy operated the store and post office for two years. After selling the store in 1946, Lyle and Dorothy moved to Boise where their son, Leland, was born in 1947. Their daughter, Karen, was born in 1949 while Lyle was again working at Anderson Dam.

Lyle was a self-educated man of many talents. He moved school houses on the Prairie and buildings from Anderson Dam to Mountain Home. He was an excellent carpenter who built a home for he, Dorothy and their family, restored old cars and repaired current ones, worked for 20 1/2 years in the operation and maintenance of the Pacific Northwest Pipeline out of Mountain Home, and spent 3 1/2 years as a mechanic/technician on the Alyeska Pipeline in Alaska.

Throughout his life, music was a huge part of whatever he did. He and Dorothy went to Weiser from 1953-2009 for the Old Time Fiddler's Festival where Lyle was a much-sought-after accompanist, and where they made many life-long friends. Lyle and Dorothy also chased fiddle contests throughout Arizona for 17 years and again they made many new friends. Lyle played some fiddle in those contests, and enjoyed that very much.

Lyle and Dorothy hosted a New Year's Eve celebration in their home for many years. Their home was always a welcoming and fun place to be for friends and family alike. By the way, there was always music!

He enjoyed exploring old mines and sharing the great outdoors with family.

He even took Dorothy fishing and hunting, but made sure his guitar went along!

Lyle was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, and a brother. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Dorothy; his son Leland (Nancy); his daughter Karen; two grandchildren, Deron Powell (Shellie) and Darbi Dursteler (Linden); four great-grandchildren, Matthew and Mason Powell and Isaac and Hayden Dursteler.

Lyle was a kind, gentle, and faithful man. He loved his family and shared everything he had with them. We are grateful for the loving example he set for us.

A memorial can be made to the Prairie QRU, c/o Mary Cook, 524 Smith Creek Rd., Prairie, ID 83647.