Marie Powers

Marie Jeanette Powers, O.F.S., age 90, died of colorectal cancer at home on December 14, 2021. Known as Jeanette throughout her life, she vowed never to use the middle name of any of her children as their common name. Jeanette worked in the diet office at St. Vincent Hospital for 24 years, retiring in 1996. She was a docent at the Moss Mansion for many years, in her later years, she was an active member of St. Pius X parish. Before that, she belonged to Holy Rosary parish and served as an Extraordinary Eucharistic Minister to the homebound members of the parish, calling committee, after Mass refreshment server, and a parish hospital visitor. She became a professed member of the Secular Franciscan Order in 1999, belonging to the Queen of Angels fraternity. She was active in Catholic Daughters of the Americas, holding several offices in Court St. Cecilia #1151. Jeanette was born in Kellogg, ID on April 24, 1931, to Dr. Henry A. and Anne (Stacken) Kehne. She graduated from Kellogg High School in 1949 and attended the University of Montana, graduating in 1953 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Home Economics. She was a member of Delta Gamma sorority. While attending the university, she met her future husband, Francis V. Powers, Jr. They were married on June 16, 1953, in Kellogg. In 1954, Jeanette and Francis moved to Billings where she became a homemaker and mother of five children--the joy of her life until grandchildren expanded it even further. She enjoyed cooking, gardening, reading, and traveling--especially the cruises she and Francis took together and their very special trip to Mexico City in 2001 with their son, Robert. She is survived by her children, Michael (Margery), Jeffery (Melinda), Anne (Ardell) Halvorson, Robert, and Ruth Powers-Piccone, nine grandchildren: Caitlin Powers (Will Sanford) and Fr. John Powers; Katherine Powers, Elizabeth Powers-McCoy, Anne Marie (Andrew) McManus, and Daniel (Sabrina) Powers; Sean Halvorson (Mercy McClure) and Erik Halvorson; and Jessica Piccone; nine great-grandchildren: Beatrice and Catherine Alice Sanford; Therese Powers, Gabrielle and Joshua McCoy; James, Emily, Samantha, and Madeiline McManus, and three nephews. She is preceded in death by her husband, Francis, her parents, her sister Margaret, and her sister-in-law Patricia (and Vernald) Bean of Dayton, OH, The family wishes to thank Dr. Sorensen and the staff at St. Vincent Healthcare for their wonderful and compassionate care for Jeanette through the years, the staff at Riverstone Hospice that cared for her in her last weeks, and the staff at West Park Village Senior Living Center. Memorials are preferred to St. Vincent de Paul Society of Billings, The Billings Preservation Society, or St. Vincent Hospital Foundation. Praying of the Franciscan Crown rosary will take place at 6:00 pm, Sunday, January 16, 2020, at Dahl Funeral Chapel, 10 Yellowstone Ave., Billings, MT followed by a Franciscan wake service at 7:00 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, January 17, 2021, at 11:00 am at St. Pius X Church, 717 18th St. W, Billings, MT. Interment following at Calvary Cemetery.