Hope G. (Ritzman) Parker

Hope G. (Ritzman) Parker passed away Nov. 11, 2007.

She was born in Kalispell, on April 16, 1924, to Joe and Violet Ritzman. Hope received her education there and then moved to Spokane, Wash. to work in various jobs, including one at a defense plant during the early war years.

During that time she married and had three children. The marriage ended in divorce.

Hope returned to Libby in 1946, and eventually married Demmon (Soup) Parker who brought two daughters to the marriage. They had three children of their own, and later adopted two daughters.

She was always a hard worker, an excellent cook (never used a recipe), and a home decorator. She always worked to provide life's little extras and made Christmas big for her family. She loved decorating for all the holidays.

Hope was an early volunteer and big supporter for the local hospice program, as well as WINGS. She was a past president of the VFW Post 1548 Women's Auxiliary.

Hope was preceded in death by her son Richard in 1975; her parents, Joe and Vi Ritzman, in 1977; her son, Dennis, in 1979; a nephew, Wade Smith, in 1994; her husband, Soup, in 1995; her daughter, Kathy Rowland, in 1998; and a nephew, Rod Smith, in 2003.

She is survived by five daughters; Lorraine and her husband George Khtaian of Anacortes, Wash., Beverly Parker, and Roxanne Parker, of Libby; Julie and her husband Jerry Dyck of Ritzville, Wash.; and Kathryn Parker of Kalispell; sons Ron and his wife Sharon Parker, and Jerry and his wife Marie Parker, of Libby; a sister, Delores, (aka Weenie) and her husband Calvin Smith and a niece, Renee Moen; 29 grandchildren, 38 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-granddaughter; as well as nieces and nephews and a lot of friends, especially her crony and dear friend of 60 plus years, Madeline Johnson.

We know that wherever Mother and Grandpa Joe meet up, they will just continue on with their conversations about ". . . old whachamacallit who lives across the street from wholamagoot, with the thingamabob on his chin, who was married to whatshername from whatdacallit town . . . and that there."

Services will be 11 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 17 at Nelson & Vial Funeral Home in Libby. Burial will follow at the City of Libby Cemetery.

The family would appreciate contributions made in Hope's memory to the local chapter of WINGS or Hospice, in lieu of flowers. Donations to WINGS can be mailed to PO Box 1550, Libby, MT, 59923.