Wanda Parks

Wanda Louella Parks, 98, passed away April 8, 2006, at North Valley Hospital.

She was born Feb 1, 1908, in Dayton, Wyo., to Clinton and Mariah (Smith) Coast, the youngest of 16 children. When she was still an infant, her mother passed away.

Her father, being unable to care for an infant, asked his friends, Luther and Emma Rice to take care of her. After a year, they asked if they could adopt her, and she gained seven older brothers and sisters. She was the last survivor of all the Coast and Rice children.

She married Harry B. Parks on April 22, 1925, in Libby. They enjoyed 66 years of marriage. He preceded her in death April 26, 1992.

Before moving to Whitefish, they lived in Bonners Ferry, Idaho, for 34 years, where he retired from the Great Northern Railroad. Their children and grandchildren all have many fond memories of family celebrations, visits and good times at their home in Bonners Ferry.

Wanda loved to knit, crochet, make quilts and do craft work. Over the years, she grew and canned much of her own fruit and vegetables. Her flower gardens were well known in Bonners Ferry. She supplied flowers for many weddings and events throughout the years.

She belonged to the American Legion Auxiliary in Gildford, and she was past president of the World War I Auxiliary 1912 in Bonners Ferry.

When her daughters were young, she was a 4-H leader and belonged to the Home Demonstration Club in Trenton, N.D. After moving to Whitefish, she enjoyed working with the ladies of the North Valley Hospital Auxiliary.

Graveside services for Wanda Louella Parks will be held Thursday (today), April 13, 2006, at 1 p.m. at Conrad Memorial Cemetery in Kalispell, with Pastor Jeff Teeple of the Christ Lutheran Church of Whitefish officiating.