Donald Parsons

Submitted Story

Published: Wednesday, June 17th, 2009

Donald Leslie Parsons was born Dec. 19, 1932, in Custer County, S.D. to Leslie M. and Verna Irene (Stanton) Parsons. He attended Custer schools and graduated from Custer High School in 1952.  He served in the U.S. Army from 1953 until his honorable discharge in 1955.  On March 5, 1955, he married Shirley Jensen at the Community Church in Custer. Don worked as a lumber grader for Custer Lumber Co. for many years. He was commander of the American Legion and a life time member of the VFW. His favorite sport was fishing. Don died June 13, 2009, at the South Dakota State Veterans Home in Hot Springs, S.D. He was 76. He is survived by his wife, Shirley of Custer; children, Daniel (Pam) Parsons of Custer, Lou Ann (Pat) Delaney of Hill City, S.D., Donald (Karen) Parsons of Rapid City, S.D., and Diane Marie Parsons of Custer; sisters, Dorothy (Chuck) Pernel of Custer, Sandy (Jim) Osmotherly of Oelrichs, S.D., Ethel (Bill) Osmotherly of Crawford, Neb., and Carol Luff of Chadron, Neb.; eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Memorial services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, June 18, at McColley’s Chapel of the Hills in Custer with Pastor Bill Savery officiating. Interment will follow at Black Hills National Cemetery in Sturgis, S.D. A memorial has been established  to the American Cancer Society or the Custer Volunteer Fire Department. Written condolences may be made at www.mccolleyschapels.com.