Frances Pauline Parks, 93, Rapid City and formerly of Nisland, died Tuesday, November10, 2009 at the Clarkson Mt. View Health Care Center in Rapid City.

Visitation with the family present will be 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. Friday, November 13, 2009 at the Kinkade Funeral Chapel in Sturgis.

Funeral services will be 1:00 p.m. Saturday, November 14, 2009 at the Kinkade Funeral Chapel in Sturgis with Beth Arlene Pierce and Angie Olson officiating. Burial follows at the Whitewood Cemetery.

A memorial has been established to the Nisland Fire Department.

Frances Pauline Voorhees was born January 9, 1916 near Vale, SD, to Fred and Myrtle (Elder) Voorhees. The family ranched and operated a dairy farm in several locations in western South Dakota where Frances was raised with her siblings, Helen, Howard, James, Alice, Ralph and Jessie. Frances attended school in Lawrence County. As a young woman she worked as a clerk in Chase's Department Store in Sturgis, SD.

On March 2, 1944, Frances wed Robert Irving Parks in Deadwood, SD. Frances joined him on the family farm north of Nisland. The couple resided together on the Parks' farm for 53 years where they raised their three children and entertained their grandchildren. She was a devoted mother and grandmother. Frances also served on the local election board and enjoyed ceramics, sewing, and knitting. In 1998, Frances moved to Rapid City to be with her daughter, Rosella. In 2002, Frances moved to an assisted living facility where she resided until her recent moved to Clarkson Mt. View.

Frances was a loving mother to LeRoy (Jean) Parks, Nisland; Rosella Perryman, Rapid City; Dale (Shirley) Parks, Sioux Falls. She was a devoted grandmother to Lori (Ron) Parks-Klinghagen, Pittsburgh, PA; Kelly Parks, Nisland, Gregory Perryman, Oklahoma; Val (Wayne) Koop, Denver, CO; Brian (Destine) Nelson, Atlanta, GA; Denise Perryman, Isabel, SD; Darlene (Wade) Weaver, Spearfish, SD; Kristi (Kevin) Smith, Evansville, IN; Lisa Parks, Sheridan, WY; Michael Parks, Minneapolis, MN; and she held a special place in her heart for numerous nieces, nephews and great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Parks, her brothers and sisters, and an infant son.