Obituary; Donald Parkin

 Donald Parkin passed away at his home outside of Superior, Montana on May 25th.  Don was born August 26th 1934 on Iron Mountain in Superior, Montana at his Grandma Bennett’s house.  The only child of Kenneth & Jane (Bennett) Parkin he attended elementary and high school in Superior, Montana.  During high school he worked for local businessman Wally Schneider.  Don’s work ethic allowed him to have one of the first automobiles in his high school class which made him a popular friend if you had gas money which Romie Doyle and Ray Bennett will attest to.  In 1952, Don joined the Navy.  He spent 3 years touring the South Pacific on the USS McKinley after which he returned to Superior.  Don had a love for all things associated with the military especially aircraft.  In 1955, he married Sylvia Schierding and shortly thereafter went to work at Diamond Match Sawmill where he  worked as a mechanic for 27 years.  They had two children Valerie and Wade.  Don cared deeply for his children and grandchildren.  He served many years as a volunteer fireman and volunteered on the ambulance.  Don was an entrepreneur, he had his own dump trucks, had a fabrication shop and at the same time maintained the school buses for many years.  He had a deep affection for the outdoors and spent many of days traveling the hills of western Montana in his Kubota.  There wasn’t a vehicle he could not fix, a piece of metal he could not weld or a task that was too big for him to complete.  He built his dream house on the Clark Fork River where he resided for several years.  Don loved to travel and during retirement he visited many of the world’s greatest historical sites with his good friend Kathy Jasper.  Don likened himself as a historian of Mineral County as he had a knack for remembering names and faces. If you had an old picture or were trying to remember someone’s name he could usually provide you with the information you sought, plus he would add his own take and opinion free of charge. The last few years Don enjoyed travelling with his life companion Elaine White.  Don will be dearly missed by his friends and family. Don is survived by his son Wade and his wife (Sue) Parkin of St Maries, ID, daughter Valerie Parkin of Billings, MT, grandchildren  Mike and Kenneth Dewey of Billings, MT and his “guiding light” Elaine White of Superior.  Graveside services will be held June 7th at 1 PM with a reception and potluck following at his home.  In lieu of flowers, we request that donations be made in Don’s honor to Mineral County Museum and Historical Society or to the charity of donor’s choice.