On November 24, 2024, James L. Powell passed away at St. Peter’s Health in Helena, Montana after a season of declining health. He was 91 years old and decided to finally take the “big pack trip” to the other side to meet up with family and friends.
Jim was born to Leland W. and Clara T. (Backen) Powell on July 20, 1933, in Helena, Montana. Jim attended school in Helena, graduating from Helena High in 1951 and receiving a football scholarship to Utah State University. After a hip injury ended his football career, he transferred to Montana State College (now Montana State University) where he joined the ROTC and studied Applied Science.
Jim was a superb athlete, playing baseball, basketball, and football, as well as an accomplished outdoorsman, enjoying hunting, fly fishing, and backcountry packing. Most of all, Jim loved to ski. While Jim was a very talented skier on his own, he also had a passion for teaching people to ski. His son, Doug, recalls finding his dad’s ski class by looking for the longest line of students on the ski hill at Belmont (now Great Divide).
As a lifelong supporter of education, Jim also served on the school board for Kessler School where he spent many evenings listening and offering good advice on the various issues being discussed. He was a mentor and inspiration to many, always listening, giving advice, and knowing what to say.
Jim was also an avid historian, remaining connected to his pioneer roots spanning the arrival of his mother’s Norwegian ancestors, who settled in Rimini, and his father’s family of early pioneers who helped develop Virginia City.
Jim was a talented artist, photographer, craftsman, and woodworker. With the help of their neighbors, Jim and his wife, Barbara, built the family home in Colorado Gulch where Jim lived for over 60 years. Jim’s love of nature, care for wildlife, and respect for the environment helped inspire his family to preserve wild lands for future generations.
While attending Montana State College, Jim met Barbara J. Rawlings, of Libby, Montana. Both Jim and Barbara were very good skiers and on their first date at the Ski Carnival, they were voted Ski King and Ski Queen! Jim and Barbara continued dating after graduation, when Jim began his service in the Air Force. Jim trained as a jet fighter pilot, flying F-86 Sabre aircraft. He was stationed in Missouri, Texas, and Washington during his military career and fondly recalled many flights around Mount Rainier. During this time, he took a short leave to return to Montana, and married Barbara on December 26, 1954. Unfortunately, the Air Force restructured the squadron’s pilot positions and Jim was honorably discharged. After his discharge from the Air Force, Jim continued to serve as a member of the Air Force Ready Reserve until 1964.
Jim and Barbara relocated to Helena in 1958 and Jim began his career with the Montana State Highway Department (now the Montana Department of Transportation) where he worked for 35 years. During this time, Jim also worked part-time at Capital Sports and Western where he forged many friendships.
Jim and Barbara had two children, Ruth (Ruthie) and Doug. Jim, Barbara, Ruthie, and Doug all loved to camp, visiting places like the Mission Mountains, the Tobacco Root Mountains, the Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness Area, Glacier Park, and Yellowstone National Park. Jim often told the story of how he packed their heavy teepee and other equipment to go camping, only to have to unpack it when they returned. With their love of the outdoors, Jim and Barbara were very excited to move to Colorado Gulch, located a few miles west of Helena, where they could camp in the woods on their own land. They lived together at Colorado Gulch until Barbara passed away on July 20, 1972.
In 1974, Jim married Lola Buchi, and for the next seven years, Lola and Jim embarked on many adventures with their families across Montana. Jim bought horses at this time and often practiced his packing skills setting up camps for the neighbors. Lola and Jim grew a large garden at their home in Colorado Gulch and spent numerous weekends cutting firewood. Although their marriage eventually ended, Lola and her children—particularly her youngest son, Duane, and his family—remain very special members of Jim’s family.
In 1982, Jim met Doris Downs, and they began a long courtship, lasting 15 years, filled with active involvement in the Helena community alongside family and friends. They enjoyed attending community events, participating in church activities, dancing, traveling to MSU Bobcat football games, and going to summer rodeos and stampedes. Jim and Doris also traveled extensively throughout Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, and Idaho to visit loved ones. They cherished time at nearby lakes, fishing, picnicking, and boating, and Jim taught Doris to ski. However, not all of their outdoor adventures were glamorous—many involved numerous trips to the mountains to gather firewood.
Jim and Doris then decided to tie the knot, eloping to Virginia City on March 5, 1998. They made their home at Colorado Gulch until the summer of 2022. Family and friends spent many happy days celebrating holidays, enjoying barbeques, and camping in the meadow at their Colorado Gulch home.
In August 2022, Jim and Doris moved to Hunters Pointe in Helena where they reunited with longtime friends and made new friends until Jim’s health necessitated his move to Cooney Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center. Though circumstances required separate living situations, Doris visited Jim daily and they were able to remain connected throughout Jim’s illness.
Jim is survived by his wife Doris, daughter Ruthie Fisher, son Doug Powell and his wife Sonia, stepdaughter Donna Downs, stepson Duane Buchi and his wife Lynn, other special members of the Buchi family, grandson Dan Fisher and his wife Hannah, granddaughters Jodi Fisher and Cara Haley and her husband Matthew Haley, grandsons Cameron Powell and Austin Powell, great grandchildren Kenadie Haley, Kadence Haley, Kaia Haley, James Gonzalez Fisher, and Addison Fisher, numerous nieces and nephews, cousin Don Smith and his wife Brenda, Norwegian cousins still in contact with the family Stein Bakken, Einar Lovseth, Ove Rusten, Bjorn Rusten, and Lillemor Rusten, and many other special relatives.
Jim was preceded in death by his wife Barbara, former wife Lola, son-in-law Edward Fisher, brothers-in-law William B. Downs, Arthur W. “Skip” Johnson, and R. Tim Johnson, parents Leland and Clara Powell, grandparents Gunder and Gina Backen, aunts Ella Backen and Myrtle (Sidney) Smith, uncles Tom Backen and Olaf Bakker (formerly Backen), and several very special lifelong friends.
Jim’s family sends special thanks for the friends and members of Plymouth Congregational Church who brought many laughs, lots of love, and good friendships. Jim had many wonderful memories from his membership, worship, and work with the “Retired Sinners” at the church. The family would also like to thank the wonderful staff at Cooney, who welcomed Jim into their facility and treated him with kindness and compassion, as well as Dr. Galt, Dr. Dixon, Dr. Coggins and their staff for their expertise in dealing with the variety of health issues Jim faced in his later years. Jim was often quoted saying, “Growing old ain’t for sissies!”
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to an organization that assists veterans with disabilities, the Montana Historical Society, or a donation to the organization of your choice.
Jim’s service is scheduled for Wednesday, December 11, 2024 at 1:30 p.m. at Plymouth Congregational Church, located at 400 S. Oakes, Helena, Montana. Interment at the Veterans Cemetery at Fort Harrison will be May 22, 2025 at 1:30 p.m.
KARLEE SIMONSON says
Jim was an absolute joy to be around. He had a smile and chuckle that warmed my heart. I enjoyed listening to him sing and hum. May he rest in peace and his family feel love and kindness during this time of lament.
Sally Speer says
Jim had a life well lived. Doris and he were members of my dad’s circle of friends at their evening gathering spot. Two very kind people, I know Jim will be missed.
Sally Speer
Don Smith says
The passing of my Cousin Jim is a significant milestone in the life of our family that centered around the large family home of Gina and Gunder Backen. Jim’s mother and my mother were sisters. Our parents both lived in that home with our Grandmother Gina. Jim was a few years older than me, but we both grew up in that home. At family gatherings, Jim, who was always an engaging
story teller, would entertain us with stories of hunting and fishing trips with his friends and exploits with the Zugel boys down the block. The family has always been close and centered around grandmother Gina’s home. Jim, in a sense is the closest thing I have to a brother, and I have been shaped by our mutual love of the forests, mountains and lakes of Montana.