Deborah Diane Van Valin

Deborah (Deb) Diane Van Valin, 69, passed away peacefully at her home September 21,2025. Affectionately know as Little Debbie, she was born September 12, 1956 to Glen and Marion Althoff. She had fond memories of growing up on the family farm in Powell with her siblings Fred and Tammy. She loved going to the Red Lodge zoo on rainy days when fields were too wet to work in.

Deb graduated high school in 1975, already a mother to her son Travis Dusenberry and wife to Michael. A few years later, their daughter Amanda was born. On July 1 st , 1988, Deb married her loving husband, John Van Valin and together they built a life full of the kids, dogs, cats, horses, mules, chickens galore and many other fowl. She enjoyed attending horse sales, drives to the mountains but always loved a big party and bonfire. She loved fishing, hunting, baking and cooking, gardening and especially playing cards. She was known to add a few pegs on occasion in cribbage! Her dilly beans, dumplings, sheet pan apple pie and pumpkin bread will be missed dearly by many.

Deb was small in stature but bigger in personality. She was very hard working. The fastest chicken processor, racoon catcher, weed sprayer, care giver around with a quick wit and joke ready. Her favorite jobs in Powell were working alongside her mother as a florist for many years at Merry Glen Evergreens and Floral and in the clothing department at Linton’s Big R where she met some of her favorite friends, whom she cherished dearly. Deb was most proud of her children. She was elated her son retired after 30 years in the USMC and was able to move back to Powell where she was able to reconnect after so many years abroad. She loved having her daughter close and together they would go camping, fishing, and take girls trips to Red Lodge. She was proud of the life she and John built, having raised many litters of Yorkies, Airedales, horses, mules and forever grateful for the care he gave her always.

Deb was preceded in death by her parents, sister Tammy Karmann, many aunts and uncles, and son in law Seth Conner. Survivors include her loving husband John, son Travis (Leigh)Dusenberry, daughter Amanda Conner, brother Fred (Sharon) Althoff, grandchildren Lauren (Brad) Solibake, Cody (Madison) Dusenberry, Justin Dusenberry, 2 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews as well as her bonus grandkids, the Goolsbey boys.

Cremation has taken place and a memorial service will be held on Friday, October 10 at 10 a.m. at Thompson Funeral Home in Powell with burial to follow at Crown Hill Cemetery.