Deanna Powell

Deanna Barnum Powell

Deanna Barnum Powell passed from this life peacefully on May 15, 2017, eleven days short of her fifty-seventh wedding anniversary.  She was born April 1, 1937 in Cedar City, Utah, the oldest of five children, while her parents were residing in Pioche, Nevada.  A hardy descendant of Mormon pioneers, she was raised in Orem, Utah and graduated from Orem High School.  She attended Brigham Young University, where she was editor of the Daily Universe and graduated with a degree in journalism.  While in college, she also worked for the Provo Daily Herald.  After graduating, she was a reporter for the Deseret News.

She married Dwight Sampson Powell May 26, 1960 in the Salt Lake Temple.  While raising three sons with Dwight, she worked at several jobs, including 28 years for the Fleet Administration Division of the LDS Church, where she finally retired in 2010.  She also earned a master’s degree from the University of Utah in educational technology.

Deanna was an accomplished musician, having started playing piano and organ for church services while still in high school.  She continued serving musically throughout her life, playing in dozens of wards and branches in four different states.  She was an organist at the Salt Lake Temple for nearly twenty years.  Deanna also served in many other church callings, including Relief Society presidencies, ward and stake scout leader, director of a regional play in Tacoma, Washington, choir director in the Salt Lake Ivins Ward, and various capacities in the Salt Lake Temple View Branch.

Deanna was a loving and dedicated wife and mother.  She taught her boys both mentally and spiritually and passed her love of music on to her posterity and all those around her.  She gave birth to her youngest child while Dwight was away serving in Vietnam.  Deanna’s three sons and five of her grandchildren (so far) have served full-time missions for the LDS Church.  She has twelve grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Deanna loved working in her garden and canning fresh fruits and vegetables.  She also enjoyed camping trips with her extended family in the beautiful mountains she treasured.  She had a strong faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ and demonstrated that faith by her words and actions.

She is preceded in death by her parents, James LaVon Barnum and Ruth Warenski, and her sisters Lea Jeneal (Bill) Hainsworth/(Gerald )Fuller and Carol Jean Barnum.  She is survived by her husband Dwight Sampson Powell; her sons Kevin Dwight (Nancy) Powell, Karl Sampson (Kathleen) Powell, and Kraig James (Kim) Powell; and her brothers Derril (Marlene) Barnum and Andrew (Linna) Barnum.

Funeral services will take place on Saturday, May 20, 2017 at 11:00 am at the Wells Ward Chapel, 1990 S. 500 E. Salt Lake City.  Those wishing to pay their respects are invited to attend a viewing at the church from 9:00-10:30 am prior to the services.  Interment will follow at 3:00 pm at the Orem City Cemetery, 1520 North 800 East, Orem, Utah.  Services entrusted to Lindquist’s Bountiful Mortuary.