Ardelle Charlotte Powell

A funeral service is 1 p.m. Saturday in Reno for Gardnerville native Ardelle Charlotte Powell, 93, who died at her home on Feb. 15, 2009.

Born in Gardnerville on Nov. 25, 1915, she often joked that her mother got a turkey for Thanksgiving. After graduating from Douglas County High School, her father Reinhold Schwake drove her to Washington D.C. where she eventually worked for the U.S. Treasury Department.

Toward the end of World War II she married Corliss Powell and they moved to Reno where she worked for Nevada Bell Telephone, scouting property for future telephone lines.

The couple enjoyed horseback riding, and Mrs. Powell often spoke of riding through the local countryside, particularly in the Mount Rose area.

Their love of animals led them to rescue a steer that still resides happily in the Powell's pasture. Although she had no children of her own, she immersed herself into the lives of her nieces and nephews.

Mrs. Powell was preceded in death by her husband Corliss; sister Elfrieda Samll of Las Vegas and brothers Walter Schwake of Smith Valley and Melvin Schwake of Minden.

She is survived by her sister Ruth Berryman of Reno; brother William Schwake of Gardnerville; and nieces and nephews Jane Bell of Arizona, Keith, Jill and James Berryman of Reno, Edrie Felts of San Jose, Sigrid Pieretti of Granite Bay, James Powell of Colorado, Fred Schwake of Smith Valley, Melvin Schwake of Minden, Barbara Sherman of Minnesota, Richard Small of Reno and two more generations of nieces and nephews.

The funeral service will be held at the Masonic Cemetery in the chapel, 437 Stoker Ave., Reno with an interment to follow at the cemetery. Ross, Burke & Knobel Mortuary have been entrusted with the arrangements.

Donations may be made to the Circle of Life Hospice, 1575 Delucchi Lane, Reno, Nevada 89502 or to a charity of your choice.