Richard "Dick" Parkinson
Richard "Dick" Parkinson, 70, of Libby died Friday, Feb. 24, 2006 at St. John's Hospital after a long battle with lung cancer.
He was a longtime member of the community and a member of the David Thompson Search and Rescue.
Dick was born Jan. 14, 1936 in Columbia Falls, to Robert and Alma (Runsvold) Parkinson. He moved with his family to Libby in 1944 where he graduated as part of the class of 1955 after joining the service. He served in the U.S. Air Force (1953-1965), and the Army National Guard (1975-1979). He completed basic training at Lackland AFB in San Antonio, Texas and was subsequently stationed in Sculthorpe, Norfolk, England and later Lincoln, Neb.
After his honorable discharge from the Air Force, he moved to Auburn, Wash., in 1965 where he worked for the General Services Administration until he returned to Montana in 1971. In 1973 he met the love of his life, Mavis "Mitzi" Rose Corneliuson. They were married Jan. 18, 1974 in Libby. They lived in Kalispell where he worked with his uncle Don Runsvold at Don's Rental until 1975 when they moved to Trego for a year and then returned home to Libby in 1976.
He worked as the greenskeeper for Cabinet View Country Club, maintenance at Libby Care Center, W.R. Grace, and Lincoln, Central, and Asa Wood Schools, until retiring in 1986.
Dick enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping, playing cribbage, helping his family, friends and neighbors. He was a caring father, grandfather and a doting husband.
He was a member of David Thompson Search and Rescue and of the Libby Church of Christ.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his eldest daughter JoAnn Parkinson, and his sister Donna Madison.
He is survived by his wife Mitzi, son Robert Parkinson of Kent, Wash.; two daughters Sherry and husband Kimball Taylor of Edgewood, Wash.; Paula and husband Julius Hubeck of Covington, Wash.; two stepdaughters Jami and husband Bob Lippencott of North Plainfield, N.J.; DeAnna Corneliuson and husband Tom Sapp of Kalispell; sister Dolores young of Seattle, Wash.; six grandchildren - Danielle Strasbaugh, Elizabeth Strasbaugh and fiancee Jeremy Flowers, and Joshua Strasbaugh all of Puyallup, Wash.; BreeAnn and Ross Lippencott of North Plainfield, N.J.; Ethan Sapp of Kalispell; and his loving and faithful dog Kassi. He is also survived by three aunts, Evelyn Runsvold Sullivan of Kalispell; Fern Parkinson Bates, of Sicamous, British Columbia; Ollie Parkinson Peirens of Lethbridge, Alberta; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and an abundance of friends.
Memorials may be made to David Thompson Search and Rescue, 512 California Ave., Libby, MT, or Kootenai Pets for Life, 452 Yaak Ave., Troy, MT, or a charity of the donor's choice.
A memorial service and celebration of his life will be Saturday, March 4, at 10 a.m. at St. John's Hospital Convention Center (the former Christian Church), E. 3 St. in Libby with Pastor Terry Crooks of the Church of Christ officiating. Local arrangements are by Nelson and Vial Funeral Home.