Donna Mae Parsons

life story

Donna M. (Zentic) Parsons was born Jan. 17, 1934 in Chicago, IL to Frank and Florence Johnson Zentic. She passed away March 9, 2025, age 91, in St. Louis Park, MN.

Donna married Thomas E. Parsons on Sept. 5, 1952. They were married 57+ years.

She graduated from Rock Island High School in IL in 1951 and graduated from San Jose State University in CA with a Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics. She taught school in Oran, MO and built a small farm with her husband in Marble Hill, MO, that she maintained until she moved to St Louis Park, MN in order to live closer to family.

Preceded in death by husband, Thomas, children, Julie and Tommy, and brother, Forrest (Sonny).

Loving survivors include children, Mark (Beverly) Parsons of St. Louis Park, MN and Keith Parsons of Des Moines, IA, brothers, Leroy (Rita) Zentic of Lincoln, NE and Arden (Gloria) Zentic of Milan, IL.

Also surviving are grandchildren, Benjamin (Karen) Parsons and Joy Harris, great-grandchildren, Evan and Calvin (children of Benjamin), and Da’Voni, Brielle and Anthony (children of Joy). Also survived by several nieces and nephews and their families.

Donna loved traveling the world by car, airplanes, and cruising with family and also loved working on her farm. After moving to MN, at 84 years of age, she took up fishing with family and watching MN Twins baseball. She especially loved spending time with her great-grandchildren, for which she was thankful that she was able to do. She was always laughing or smiling and made everyone around her happy.

Donna is and will be missed very much.

Family plans to celebrate Donna’s life later this year.

memorial service

Funeral/Cremation Provider: Crescent Tide Cremation Services