Yong Park, 85

Dr. Yong Ho Park, M.D., age 85, died peacefully of natural causes on Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Superior, MT. Yong was born in Seoul city, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea (ROK) to the late Jong Seong Park and Min Hae Lee.

Yong is survived his wife Mi Hwa, and children, Peter and his wife (Susan) of Missoula, MT; Gregory and his wife (Carissa) and children (Ariana and Christopher) of New Brighton, MN; Jae of Portland, OR; and Timothy of Charlotte, NC. He is also survived by his brother In Ho of Pleasant Hill, CA; sister Myoung Ho Kim and her husband Byoung Gon of Incheon, ROK; sister Ki Suk Kim and her husband Wan Joon of Seoul, ROK; sister Myoung Suk Lee of Daegu, ROK; cousin Sang Ho Park of Bongmyeong-ri, ROK; and numerous cousins, nephews, and nieces.

Yong was raised in the Yongin countryside and Seoul city, and he graduated from Bo Sung High School in 1959. He went on to pursue his education in pre-medicine at the College of Art and Science of Seoul National University from 1959-1961, and he successfully furthered his education to receive his medical doctorate from the Medical College of Seoul National University in 1965. He came to the United States for post-graduate training with an internship at St. Peter’s Hospital in Albany, NY from 1965-1966, followed by a residency in General Surgery at Madison General Hospital in Madison, WI from 1966-1969.

Due to mandatory military service requirements, Yong served with the Armed Service of South Korea from 1970-1973 at the Korean DMZ as a commander of the 56th Infantry Medical Company, as a surgeon at an evacuation hospital, and as a surgeon at the Medical Company of the White Horse (9th Infantry) Division in Vietnam in cooperation with the US military. After returning to the United States, Yong continued training as a General Surgery resident physician at Meharry Medical College in Nashville, TN, and in 1975 he began practicing in Elkin, NC. While he never intended to stay in the United States after his training, he said the freedom he felt, that Americans inherently have, made him pursue naturalization, and he became a US citizen in 1978. Yong moved to Superior, MT in 1980 and practiced medicine at Mineral County Hospital as well as hospitals in Plains and St. Ignatius until he retired in 2006.

Dr. Park loved God and he loved Superior. He once said that Superior was the place God wanted him to be, and it always reminded him of his hometown. Yong was an honorable man who always worked to help others. His compassion for people will truly be missed. Yong collected many titles and certifications over his life that reflected his passions and his love of lifelong learning. To name a few: Private Pilot, Licensed Southern Baptist Preacher, Diplomat of the American Board of Abdominal Surgery, Gideon, Adjunct Professor of Clinical Medicine, Founder of the Korean Baptist Church of Missoula, and President of the Korean Association of Montana. If you happened to cross paths or see Yong, he was likely working on house projects, headed to the airport, wandering about on an ATV or motorcycle, or going to the post office. He was an avid photographer, short-wave radio enthusiast, and he found great joy as a woodworking hobbyist.

The family sincerely thanks the residents in the town of Superior (and greater Montana) who have supported, helped, and visited with Dr. Park for these many years.

A service will be held on Saturday, April 6, 2024 at 11AM MDT at the Clark Fork Fellowship (502 Pike ST, Superior, MT 59872). A streaming option may be available for those relatives and friends who are unable to attend; those interested should email requests to yong.park.mt@gmail.com.