Richard 'Dick' Parkinson, 70
Dick Parkinson of Libby died Friday morning at St. John's Hospital after a long and brave battle with lung cancer. Dick was a longtime member of the community and a member of the David Thompson Search and Rescue.
He was the loving husband of Mitzi Parkinson. 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 our country in the United States Air Force (1953-1965), and the Army National Guard (1975-1979). He completed basic training at Lackland AFB in San Antonio, and was subsequently stationed in Sculthorpe, Norfolk, England, and later Lincoln, Neb.
After his honorable discharge from the Air Force, he moved in 1965 to Auburn, Wash., 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, and 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 and helping his family, friends and neighbors. He was a caring father, grandfather and a doting husband.
He was a member 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., and Paula and husband, Julius Hubeck, of Covington, Wash., two stepdaughters, Jami and husband, Bob Lippencott, of North Plainfield, N.J., and DeAnna Corneliuson and husband, Tom Sapp, of Kalispell; sister, Dolores Young of Seattle; six grandchildren, Danielle Strasbaugh, Elizabeth Strasbaugh and fiance Jeremy Flowers, and Joshua Strasbaugh, all of Puyallup, Wash., BreeAnn and Ross Lippencott of North Plainfield, and Ethan Sapp of Kalispell. He also leaves behind 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, and 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 service and celebration of his life will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 4, at St. John's Hospital Convention Center (the former Christian Church), East Third St., in Libby, with Pastor Terry Crooks of the Church of Christ officiating.
Arrangements are by Nelson and Vial Funeral Home.