Katie Powell
1923 – 2017

Katherine "Katie" Lucille Powell, longtime Colfax resident, passed away Saturday, December 30, 2017 in Colfax. She was 94. Funeral Services will be held Friday, January 5th, at 2:00 p.m. at Peace Lutheran Church in Colfax with Pastor Jeannette Solimine officiating. Viewing will be Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Bruning Funeral Home. Katie was the youngest of five children to bless the home of German immigrants Gus and Mary Selonka on December 16, 1923 in Metaline Falls, Washington. Katie graduated from high school in Metaline Falls and then attended nurse's training at Sacred Heart in Spokane. Following completion as a Registered Nurse, Katie was sent by the nuns to Colfax to work as an R.N. at the St. Ignatius Hospital there. One evening while playing slot machines at the Colfax Athletic Club Katie met Harold Powell, a young businessman in town. They married March 10, 1946 in Spokane. Harold owned and operated Powell Plumbing in Colfax, a business he acquired following the untimely passing of his father in 1941. Harold and Katie made their home in Colfax and she kept busy raising a family and running their home. She was an excellent cook and was well-known for her delicious home-baked pies. She enjoyed her flower gardens, bowled with Harold on a co-ed league, and they were "stadium builders" for Cougar athletics and were frequently seen at football and basketball games where they held season tickets. Katie did some private duty nursing for people she knew, but her main focus always remained on her kids, her husband and her home. In later years, Katie worked with Harold in the business doing bookkeeping or selling appliances from the showroom. She and Harold were privileged to take several trips abroad with Westinghouse, their appliance brand. They liked to travel and enjoyed a trip to Europe in 1976 with their daughter and son-in-law and the family recalls a few trips that Katie took with them by train as well. She and Harold made annual trips to the Oregon Coast with four other couples where many good times were had by all. Good friends and good fun were a common theme throughout Katie's life. She and Harold always had a cat and they were members of the Methodist Church. Harold passed away in 2009 and Katie remained in her home until just over three years ago when she moved to the Cityview Adult Family Home on Valleyview. Katie's family wishes to thank everyone at Cityview for their tender, loving care of their mother these last years and to Dr. Singh for his excellent care as well. Katie will be missed by many in the community but especially by her children; David and wife Kathy Powell of Burlington, WA, and Peggy and husband Jon Kehne of Colfax; her three grandchildren, Brian Kehne of Spokane, Jennifer (Matt) Powell Zylstra of Monroe, WA, and Tristan (Jodi) Powell of Redmond, WA; and by 2 great-grandchildren, Brayden and Wyatt Zylstra. In addition to her husband, Katie was preceded in death by a son, Roger Alan in 1952, her brother Tommy, sisters Flora, Ethel and Margaret and by her parents. The family suggests memorial gifts in her memory be given to the Colfax Fire Department or to the Whitman Hospital Foundation. On-line guest book is at www.bruningfuneralhome.com
Bruning Funeral Home of Colfax is caring for the family.