Clear, 46° F
(Jan. 23, 2008)
Former Powell resident Howard R. Sanders died Wednesday, Jan. 23 at Skagit Valley Hospital in Mt. Vernon, Wash., following a long illness. He was 79.
He was born in Broadwater, Neb., on March 2, 1928. When he was 5, his family moved to Wyoming, settling in the Whistle Creek community southeast of Powell. The family then moved south and followed seasonal employment.
On the night of his 17th birthday, Howard enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served in the Philippines for two years.
He married Evangeline (Vangie) Schmidt in Lovell on June 23, 1948. To that union were born six children. Howard and Vangie lived in Powell for 37 years before moving to Camano Island, Wash., where they have resided for the past 23 years.
Howard worked in the oil fields most of his life, many of those years as an independent welding contractor. While in Powell, Howard was an active member of Hope Lutheran Church. In Washington, Howard was a member of Camano Lutheran Church. Howard was an avid hunter and fisherman, and enjoyed boating and spending time in the mountains. He loved to help people, and his devotion to the Lord was evident to the end.
Howard is survived by his wife of nearly 60 years, Evangeline, of Camano Island, Wash.; two sons, Howard (Ann) Sanders of Powell, and Eldon (Cat) Sanders of Ralston; four daughters, Mary (Fran) Vande Veegaete and Jan (Terry) Cronin of Powell, Jeanette (Tony) Reed of Seattle, Wash., and Judy (Earl) Otto of Sierra Madre, Calif.; 19 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren; and two sisters, Dorothy and Shirley. Howard was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, one sister, and one grandson.
Cremation has taken place and a memorial service will be conducted in Powell at a later date. Memorials may be given to Camano Lutheran Church, 850 N. Heichel Road, Camano Island, WA 98282.
