Tom Newt Powell, 84, Sturgis and formerly of Newell, died Tuesday, August 04, 2009 at the Sturgis Regional Senior Care Center.

Memorial services will be 1 p.m. Thursday, August 13, 2009 at the Kinkade Funeral Chapel in Sturgis with Rev. Harlan Robbins officiating. Inurnment follows at the Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis with military honors provided by the Sturgis Veterans Honor Guard.

A memorial has been established to the DAV Transportation Fund.

Tom was born October 3, 1924 at Warrensburg, MO, to Floyd and Minnie (Jasper) Powell. He joined the CCC's at an early age and then traveled to Arizona to work on a ranch. He returned to Missouri where he was promptly drafted into the U.S. Navy

Tom was a Seaman First Class on the USS Chester and was honorably discharged in 1946. He traveled north and found work on ranches in Montana and South Dakota. He married Ida McCahan.

Tom learned the auto body trade and earned a living repairing vehicles in Wyoming and South Dakota. He owned and operated his own body shop in Sturgis.

Tom married Connie Aga at Belle Fourche on August 1, 1967 and they moved to Arkansas where Tom opened Newts Body Shop. He learned to fly and earned his private pilot's license. He bought, sold, rebuilt and flew numerous small aircraft over the years. The family bought part of Hammond, MT, in 1982 and they opened a café and mechanic shop where he continued to pursue his hobbies. In 1986 they moved to Newell where they retired. Tom kept busy with airplanes and body work for several more years.

Tom was a former member of the EAA and the USS Chester Association.

Survivors include his wife Connie Powell, Sturgis; son William D. "WD" Powell, CA; daughters Leigh Powell, Omaha, NE, Vicki Nolan, Bull Shoals, AR, Connie Sue Daniels, Fort Jones, CA; step sons, Paul Patterson, Belle Fourche, William Patterson, Houston, TX, Jesse Patterson, Mt. Home, AR; step daughters, Cynthia Eide, Sturgis, Victoria Saulsbury, Colstrip, MT; brother, Reese Powell, Miles City, MT; 6 grandchildren, 4 great grandchildren, 7 step grandchildren, 12 step great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, one step son, one grandson, one brother.