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     Memorial services for Donald D. Parsons, 83, of Aberdeen, and formerly of Columbia and Britton, SD, will be 10:30 a.m., Thursday, September 8, 2016, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 1620 Milwaukee Avenue NE, Aberdeen, with Pastor Rhia Strohm officiating.

     Burial, with Military Rites, will take place at Columbia Catholic Cemetery in Columbia, SD.

     Schriver’s Memorial Mortuary & Crematory, 414 5th Avenue NW, Aberdeen, is in charge of arrangements. 

     Visitation will be 5-7:30 p.m., Wednesday, at the mortuary followed by a public prayer service at 7:30 p.m.

     Donald passed away Sunday, September 4, 2016, at his residence in Aberdeen.

     Donald Duane Parsons was born August 26, 1933, in Aberdeen, SD, to Ainley Alexander and Katherine R. (Callaghan) Parsons.  He attended school in Aberdeen and graduated from Aberdeen Central High School in 1951.  Don was very athletic.  He played on two State Tournament Championship Aberdeen Smittys baseball teams, and in 1949, their team achieved #12 in the nation out of 60,000 teams, which was the highest ranking of any Aberdeen Legion team.   Don was also the captain of the Eagles football team of 1950.

     Don entered the United States Marine Corp in 1953 and served his country during the Korean War.  He was honorably discharged in 1955.

     On April 1, 1955, Don married Dawn Ronning and to this union four children were born:  Daniel, Dawn, Dennis, and Kari.  He furthered his education at the Aberdeen School of Commerce, Minneapolis Computer Programmers Institute, Supervisory School, University of Wisconsin, and Bismarck Junior College.  Don then began employment as Manager of Northwest Computer Services in Bismarck, ND.  He was involved in converting 26 banks in the North Dakota area to computer from the 402 accounting method.  Don then accepted the position of Vice President of Human Resources at Norwest Bank in Bismarck.  He later began working for the United States Postal Service.  Don and Dawn shared over 41 years of marriage before she passed away on September 7, 1996.

     On June 6, 1998, Don was united in marriage to Jody R. Kasch.  They made their home in Columbia, SD, where Don served on the city council for many years.  The couple then moved to Aberdeen, and also resided in Britton, SD, before returning to Aberdeen.  In 2000, Don retired from the US Postal Service, ending his 30-year career.  The couple continued to make Aberdeen their home until the time of Don’s death.

     Don is survived by his wife, Jody Parsons of Aberdeen; two sons, Daniel Parsons of Aberdeen and Dennis (Tina) Parsons of Westport, SD; two daughters, Dawn R. Parsons (Luis Reyes) and Kari (Joe) Murtagh, both of Aberdeen; 10 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; one brother, James Parsons of Aberdeen; and his two special dogs, “Zoey” and “Abigail”.

     He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Dawn; one brother; one sister; and two grandchildren.

     Condolences may be sent to:  Jody Parsons, 612 West Paramount Drive - Apt. #101, Aberdeen, SD  57401.