Harold Mead Parsons

Parsons Harold Mead ``Deke'' Parsons, Jr. Deke Parsons of Edina passed away on April 16. He was 88. Deke was born on December 14, 1913 to Harold and Julia Parsons in Palmer, MA. He grew up in Palmer and in New Britain, CT and attended Belmont Hill Academy. He earned a BS in Psychology from Harvard College in 1936. A successful wholesale appliance salesman with Graybar Company and, later, General Electric, he moved to Minneapolis in 1954 after beginning his career in the Northeastern states. He had four sons with the former Elise Burroughs. In 1963, he married the former Marlyn Peikert from Winona, and spent many happy years living in Bloomington and traveling across North America with her until her death in 1994. After her death, he took up full-time residence at Happy Wanderer RV Park in Indio, CA. An excellent and avid gardener, hiker, lover of wildlife and jazz, Deke later became a docent at The Living Desert Wildlife and Botanical Park in CA and at Shore Acres State Park in OR. In the spring of 2001, Deke returned to Minnesota. He is survived by his four sons, Jeff, Peter, Mark and Roger. According to his wishes, his ashes will be scattered at the same location as those of his beloved Marlyn. At the family's request, all services will be private. Any memorial donations can be made to The Living Desert Wildlife and Botanical Park, 47900 Portola Avenue, Palm Desert, CA, 92260. WERNESS BROTHERS 952-884-8145

Published on April 21, 2002