Kaity Parks was born Barbara Jean Gibbons on August 9, 1947, to Joseph and Ethel Gibbons in Huron, South Dakota. For the first few years of her life, the family followed Joe around the region as he built South Dakota's highways. The family eventually settled in Rapid City. Kaity graduated from Rapid City High School.
In 1965, Kaity welcomed her daughter, Tamlyn. While attending the Black Hills Folk Forum in Rapid City, Kaity met her future husband, Wynn Parks. Both attended college in the Black Hills and later married in Canada. The family moved from one adventure to another over the next 12 years. One of those adventures took them to the Greek Islands where Kaity discovered her passion for painting. She found inspiration in the picturesque villages and landscapes as well as other travels around Europe, into Turkey, Iran, and even Morocco. Her daughter fondly remembers one summer setting up shop on a busy corner to help Kaity sell her watercolor paintings of the island of Paros to tourists. Demand was often greater than Kaity could supply!
After moving back to South Dakota with her daughter in 1980, she eventually settled in Whitewood. She was very involved in her community and her local A.B.A.T.E. chapter. She studied cabinet making at Western Dakota VoTech, but a back injury ended her career in deckbuilding. Kaity dusted herself off and went back to school, earning an MA in counseling. She ultimately found her calling as a youth counselor at Box Elder Job Corps. She loved helping her students overcome their challenges and become optimistic adults with bright futures.
She also loved spending time with her daughter and grandchildren. On their birthdays, she'd take them on a shopping spree and let them choose their own presents, whether it was 20 feet of rope, an emerald green sequined jumpsuit, or a pound of nails. If it made them happy, it made her happy.
When Kaity retired from counseling, she continued her adventures, traveling solo to Panama (who says old broads can't zipline!), and then with her granddaughter to Amsterdam, Paris, Cornwall, and back to Greece.
Kaity had a feisty spirit that never wavered - she never backed down from a fight or challenge. Her irreverent sense of humor often caught both friends and strangers by surprise. She will be missed by all who knew and loved her.
Barbara "Kaity" Jean Parks, 73, of Spearfish died Sunday, November 1, 2020, at Spearfish Canyon Health Care.
Kaity is survived by her daughter, Tammy; brothers, Joe (Judy) Gibbons, Kenny (Linda) Gibbons, Jack Gibbons; grandchildren, Alex, Rhiannon, and Patrick Keenan; nieces, Jennifer Gibbons, Melanie VanRoekel, Christine Cullers, and Sarah Romlein; and nephew, Sam Strand.
She is preceded in death by her mother, Ethel; father, Joe; and sister-in-law, Linda (Roberts) Gibbons.
Visitation from 12-1:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 5, 2020, at Kinkade Funeral Chapel.
Graveside services will be 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 5, 2020, at the Whitewood Cemetery with Rev. David Baer officiating.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations made in Kaity's name to Planned Parenthood.