Obituary for Ralph Squires Parkinson - East Idaho News
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Obituary

Ralph Squires Parkinson

December 7th, 1925 - January 29th, 2023









Ralph Squires Parkinson, 97, of Arco, Idaho peacefully passed from this life at his home on January 29, 2023. 

Ralph was born December 7, 1925, to Emma Kate Squires and Sedlie Williams Parkinson in Plano, Idaho. He was the fifth of eleven children, Ted, Leo, Ruby, Selma, Ralph, Phyllis, Byron, Stan, Jim, Lynn, and Christine. They moved many times while growing up working very hard to provide for such a large family by farming and other available work.

Ralph attended school in several places, graduating from Madison High School in Rexburg in 1944 and immediately joining the army. After some harrowing and also faith-building experiences during World War II, he returned home to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in California. Then, while attending college at Utah State, he met Theda Ellen Kowallis and they were married in the Logan LDS Temple on October 16, 1953. They moved to Washington where they both taught school in the winters and spent the summers in Arco, helping on the farm. In 1960 they moved permanently back to Arco where they also taught school but eventually farmed full-time.

Ralph and Theda are the parents of six children: Scot (Gayla) Parkinson, Arco ID; Debbie (Hal) Hansen, Timnath, CO; Craig Parkinson, Jerome and Arco, ID; Eileen (Cory) Haviland, Brigham City, UT; Neil Parkinson (deceased); and Anita (Dale) Kepler, Mesa, AZ.

Ralph enjoyed sports. Throughout his younger years, he participated in baseball, wrestling, boxing, and basketball. He even did some coaching during the years he was teaching school.

Ralph was a lifelong, faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His favorite quote was “The gospel of Jesus Christ is true and the best is yet to come.” (L. Tom Perry)

After 59 years together Theda graduated to the next life and Ralph often wondered “What is she doing now? I can’t wait to see her again!” He is survived by 5 children, 19 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren, and 2 of his brothers.

A funeral service will be held Saturday, February 11, 2023, at 1:00 pm, at the Arco LDS Church on County Road in Arco, ID.

The family will meet with friends 1 hour prior to the service at the Arco LDS Church and on Friday, February 10, 2023, from 6-8 pm, at the Anderson Family Funeral Home in Arco, ID.

Interment will be in the Arco Hillcrest Cemetery.

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