Margaret A. Trube Parker

Oct. 19,1930 - Nov. 2, 2006

POLSON — With dignity and grace, and her family by her side, Mom passed away after a long courageous battle with ovarian cancer. She fought the cancer battle for the love of her family. Late one night in the hospital one of her nurses told her daughter "She is lucky to have you" to which her daughter Susan's reply was, "No we are the lucky ones."

Many people live their whole lives and are never loved with the intensity that she loved us; we were truly the lucky ones. Mom was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend who loved sincerely, honestly and passionately. When Mom had an opinion she certainly let you know her opinion. She had a wonderful sense of humor and dry wit that spiced up all of our lives.

She would deliberately bait someone just to get them into a heated "discussion." She believed deeply that in our family and in our society we must hear all points of view when making important decisions. We learned from her that just because we may have a different point of view on a subject, we could all still love as family and live as neighbors. She helped expand the minds of all who came in contact with her. All should be free to express themselves. She never intentionally hurt anyone by her actions or her words.

Her fight with ovarian cancer led her to courageously volunteer to participate in three separate research studies.

While much more is known today about cancer in general, little is known about the indicators of and cures for ovarian cancer affecting many women across the globe. Mother's goal as she so sincerely stated was, "I want to help all the daughters and granddaughters everywhere beat this disease."

Bless her heart for the conviction she had to help all women and their families by sacrificing her own quality of life. While none of the experimental treatments were able to cure her, ovarian cancer researchers all across the world know more methods that don't work. Once again, Margaret Trube Parker gave it her all.

Mom was born in Forsyth to Vera and Deryl Trube. She climbed the hills in Forsyth as a happy child in a wonderful family oblivious of depression economics. She spent many teen and young adult years in Colstrip. She was a graduate of the Colstrip class of '48. It was during those years that she met and married the love of her life, Donald (Nick) Parker. They were married for 58 years as of last month.

Early years in Colstrip found Mom having babies (Bob and Bill) and being an Avon Representative for the Colstrip and Lame Deer area. When Mom and Dad left Colstrip they traveled the state of Montana doing road construction. We all became lifelong members of the Wicken's Bros. Construction family. We met many lifelong friends and added to the family (Karen and Susan) along the way, which included stops in Winifred, Lewistown and many other salt-of-the-earth Montana communities. Her door was always open for a chat to share a hot cup of coffee or tea and to sample some of her wonderful cinnamon rolls or homemade treats. Her Christmas candy was amazing.

Eventually, Mom and Dad decided to start a small construction company of their own, Partner's Inc. and returned to the area where they started, Lame Deer. Mom served as the VP/Secretary/Treasurer of Partner's Inc. up until the time of her passing.

Mom volunteered for every worthy project that she could (including volunteering her family). She was co-founder of the Northern Cheyenne Area Chamber of Commerce; a committee member with the 1st Interstate Bank, charged with developing financial services for the Northern Cheyenne people; and unofficial liaison with Senator Baucus to promote area Economic Development and support for local youth activities.

Mom relentlessly pursued reservation cleanup projects that included junk vehicle removal, removal of excess tires from downtown Lame Deer, and she was instrumental in the Northern Cheyenne jail work release program helping with local cleanup projects. She was also a member of the Lame Deer Women's Club, Council on Aging on the Custer County Board of Directors and served many years as an election judge.

Mom was preceded in death by her parents, Vera and Deryl Trube, sisters Derylene Trube and Pauline Meier, and grandson Deryl Swanz.

She is survived by her husband of 58 years, Donald (Nick); her children, Bob and Susan Parker (Sabrina, Scott and Emera), Bill and Natalie Parker (Natalie, Megan, Nick and Adam), Karen and Dennis Duty (Brooke, Ashley and Alysha) and Susan and Ben Swanz (Parker); sister Dorothy (George) Trask; brother Vance (Barb) Trube; numerous nephews, nieces, cousins and friends who are our family of the heart.

A celebration of Mom's life will be on Nov. 18 at 1 p.m. at the Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Lame Deer. A wonderful meal will follow. All family and friends are officially invited.

Cremation has taken place under the direction of Grogan Funeral Home & Crematory of Polson.

Memorials in Marg Parker's name should be made to the American Cancer Society or Hospice.

Condolences may also be sent to the family at www.groganfuneralhome.com