Stella Powlus

Stella Mae Lang Powlus Stella Mae Lang Powlus, 93 of Twin Falls, Idaho passed away on October 19th, 2019 at Brookdale Assisted Living surrounded by family of natural causes. She was born May 17th, 1926 to Andrew C and Margaret McCurdy Lang in Twin Falls, Idaho. She attended Grade School at Saint Edwards Catholic School and Graduated from Twin Falls High School as a Valedictorian in 1942.  After high school, she attended secretarial school in Salt Lake City, at Fort Douglas Army Base. Having worked as a secretary for a couple of years at an army base in Utah, she decided to go home for a weekend and one of her girlfriends talked her into going to the Mountain Home Air Base to meet a couple of enlisted personnel. Low and behold would she have known that her special date ended up being her future husband (Jack Powlus) after 4 short months of dating.  They decided to get married just before Jack was shipped overseas to Europe in 1944. Jack completed his tour of duty and was able to come back and resume his role as husband and father. Child number one of seven was born a son in April of 1946.  Number two was a girl and all the rest were boys. Stella always said that all Jack had to do was leave his pants on the end of the bed, and she ended up pregnant. Steven was a very special son of Jack and Stella’s. In this day and age, he would have been diagnosed with Autism, but back in the 60-70’s the diagnosis was mental retardation. In Stevens case (severe). He was able to stay home until his 6th birthday, but then it was apparent that he was too much for Stella to handle so he was taken to the Idaho State School and Hospital (in Nampa, Idaho) where he was able to get more one on one attention. Jack and Stella, (along with their sons) made frequent trips to see Steven and to assure him that he was not forgotten and to show their unending love for him clear until his 32nd birthday when he succumbed to Testicular Cancer.  We knew at that point that Steve was in Gods hands, and his pain and suffering was no more. Mom fulfilled one of her lifelong dreams in 1967 when she finished her Licensed Practical Nurse State Boards and passed with high honors and was named Idaho Licensed Practical Nurse of the Year for the State of Idaho. Nursing was in Stella’s blood and she loved to do it more than anything else.  After Three years as a LPN, my mother went back to school at the College of Southern Idaho and completed her Registered Nursing Degree in 1974, Working at Magic Valley Regional Hospital for a total of 22 years (the last 8 as House Supervisor).  A knee injury causes her to have to retire and give up the nursing she so loved.  The Nursing legacy carries on in the family with a son, two granddaughters and a grandson’s wife; as Registered Nurses. In retirement, Jack and Stella were frequent fliers to Jackpot where our mother loved to play hours on end at the 21 table, or a slot machine every now or then. Also, they made numerous cruises with our father’s brother and his wife throughout the Caribbean and Hawaii.  Stella is survived by her daughter; Jackie Smith of Twin Falls, Idaho, Sons; Joseph L. (Wilma) Powlus, Twin Falls, Idaho, Brent A. Powlus, Twin Falls, Idaho, Bryan (Amy) Powlus, Eagle Mountain, Utah, Daughter in Law; Ann Powlus, El Paso, Texas,  13 Grandchildren, 27 Great Grandchildren, 4 Great Great Grandchildren.  Stella is preceded in death by her husband Jack; sons Charles, Michael, Steven; her parents; all Brothers and Sisters and a great granddaughter. A Mass of Christian burial will be held Friday October 25th, 2019 @ 10:00 am at Saint Edwards Catholic Church with reception to follow in the parish hall. A Virgil Service will be held Thursday October 24th, 2019 at Parke’s Magic Valley Funeral Home, 2551 Kimberly Road, Twin Falls with a viewing starting at 06:00 pm to 06:55 pm and the Rosary service starting at 07:00 pm with Deacon Jim Herrett officiating. In Lieu of flowers, donations may be made in the name of Stella to the Nursing Program at the College of Southern Idaho, Twin Fall, Idaho. Those who wish may view the full life sketch and share memories and condolences on Stella’s memorial page at www.magicvalleyfuneralhome.com.