She was born April 9, 1925, in Sugar City, Idaho, to Oriole and Seymour Beesley. The oldest of three children, she was raised and attended schools in Rexburg. After graduation, she joined her aunt and uncle in San Diego and worked assembling airplanes for the war effort. She worked on the PB4Y-2 airplane for the Navy. Feeling the need to help with the war effort, she joined the U.S. Marine Women's Reserve on May 29, 1945. She served in Washington, D.C., from 1945 to 1946, training to march military style and working as a clerk in the Navy Annex.
She returned to Rexburg to work and eventually met and married Preston H. Parkinson on May 31, 1948. Thus started her career as a farm wife, cooking for hired men, chasing for machine parts, cutting seed potatoes and helping on the farm any way possible. Together they had four children: Preston Eric "Rick," Christine, Sara Ann and Phillip. They raised their children on the farm and taught them to work hard.
Norma enjoyed oil painting, needlework, music, helping with the Civic Club, volunteering as a Pink Lady at Madison Memorial Hospital, working in her garden, skiing and spending time with her grandchildren.
She was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving in numerous positions in the Relief Society and Primary. She had a great love for Relief Society and visiting teaching.
She was sealed to Preston in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple on April 20, 1996.
She is survived by two daughters, Chris (Mike) Wheiler of Idaho Falls and Sara Knapp of Rexburg; and one son, Phil (Dayna) Parkinson of Rexburg; her brother, Bud (Margaret) Beesley of Kennewick, Wash.; and sister, Bonnie (Don) Stevens of Idaho Falls; seven granddaughters; and two great-granddaughters.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Seymour and Oriole Beesley; her husband, Preston H. Parkinson; her son, Rick; and her granddaughter, Andrea Brin Wheiler.
She was born April 9, 1925, in Sugar City, Idaho, to Oriole and Seymour Beesley. The oldest of three children, she was raised and attended schools in Rexburg. After graduation, she joined her aunt and uncle in San Diego and worked assembling airplanes for the war effort. She worked on the PB4Y-2 airplane for the Navy. Feeling the need to help with the war effort, she joined the U.S. Marine Women's Reserve on May 29, 1945. She served in Washington, D.C., from 1945 to 1946, training to march military style and working as a clerk in the Navy Annex.
She returned to Rexburg to work and eventually met and married Preston H. Parkinson on May 31, 1948. Thus started her career as a farm wife, cooking for hired men, chasing for machine parts, cutting seed potatoes and helping on the farm any way possible. Together they had four children: Preston Eric "Rick," Christine, Sara Ann and Phillip. They raised their children on the farm and taught them to work hard.
Norma enjoyed oil painting, needlework, music, helping with the Civic Club, volunteering as a Pink Lady at Madison Memorial Hospital, working in her garden, skiing and spending time with her grandchildren.
She was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving in numerous positions in the Relief Society and Primary. She had a great love for Relief Society and visiting teaching.
She was sealed to Preston in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple on April 20, 1996.
She is survived by two daughters, Chris (Mike) Wheiler of Idaho Falls and Sara Knapp of Rexburg; and one son, Phil (Dayna) Parkinson of Rexburg; her brother, Bud (Margaret) Beesley of Kennewick, Wash.; and sister, Bonnie (Don) Stevens of Idaho Falls; seven granddaughters; and two great-granddaughters.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Seymour and Oriole Beesley; her husband, Preston H. Parkinson; her son, Rick; and her granddaughter, Andrea Brin Wheiler.
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