Mary Ester Parsons, 75, Whitewood, died Friday, December 20, 2013 at the Rapid City Regional Hospital.

Visitation will be 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. on Friday at the Kinkade Funeral Chapel in Sturgis.

Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Saturday December 28, 2013 at the Kinkade Funeral Chapel in Sturgis. Burial follows at the Bear Butte Cemetery in Sturgis.

A memorial has been established.

Mary was born April 18, 1938, in a tiny two room home at Gettysburg, SD to Harold G. and Emma R. (Udahl) Rud. The family moved to a farm North East of Gettysburg in March of 1943 when Mary was 5 years old and her last sister was 21 days old. Mary attended Lucas #28 country school until the 8th grade. She graduated from Gettysburg High School in 1956 and St. Mary's school of practical nursing in 1957.

She married Gale W. Parsons on March 15, 1958. To this union, four children were born.

Mary worked at St. Mary's Hospital in Pierre in the pediatric ward. They moved to Chamberlain in 1961 where Mary worked at the Chamberlain Hospital. They moved back to Pierre in 1965 where she went back to St. Mary's pediatric department. Mary moved to Sturgis and worked at Ft. Meade VA Hospital for 25 years and moved into her new home in Whitewood after retirement.

She worked for Black Hills Special Services and later the Dorsett Home in Spearfish until November of 2012.

Mary enjoyed gardening, bowling, reading, knitting, crocheting, cross stitch and cross country skiing.

Survivors include her sons, Michael Parsons, Box Elder, Colin (Darla) Parsons, Whitewood; daughters, Michelle Parsons Busby(James) Roe, Beatrice, NE, Colleen Tassler, Beulah, WY; sister, Betty (Donnie) Berger, Whitewood; also 17 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren; two sister in laws, Edina Rud, Pierre, SD, Joyce Leach, Portland, OR; one aunt, Bessie Weinert, Gettysburg.

She was preceded in death by her parents, three brothers, one sister and three grandchildren.

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