Vernon Frederick Parker

About Vernon

Vernon Frederick Parker, 89, of Blackduck, MN died Tuesday, March 15, 2022 at the Good Samaritan Care Center in Blackduck, MN.

Vernon Frederick Parker was born November 9, 1932 to Frederick William Parker, Jr. and Helga Marianne (Andersen) Parker at the Parker farm in Sundown Township, MN on the day that FDR’s presidential win was announced. Vernon always liked to say he and FDR came into power together.

Vernon grew up on the farm and remembered farming with horses and the day his dad bought the first tractor. He also recalled the family’s first car, a 1930 Model A Ford. Thereafter, Vern was always a Ford man.

Vernon began schooling at the District 13 country school in Sundown Township. He attended Maplewood Academy in Hutchinson for 3 years starting in 1947. Later, he took a Bemidji State University course on Henry Ford. In later years, Vern became an avid reader on a variety of subjects and his acquired knowledge probably surpassed many college educated folks.

At Maplewood, he met a pretty lil’ gal, Myrna Andersen, who was seated beside him in biology class. She was a good student and found Vernon’s class room antics annoying! But when they bumped into each other a few years later, Myrna warmed to Vernon’s charm and they went on a date – thereafter they kept in touch. They were married on May 9, 1954 at the Maple Plain Seventh-day Adventist Church.

After a honeymoon to Loveland, Colorado, they returned to Minnesota where Vernon was inducted into the U. S. Army on June 8, 1954. He was first stationed at Fort Sam Houston in Texas and then transferred to Fort Lewis near Tacoma, Washington where he worked at Madigan Army Hospital as an orderly. While there, Vernon and Myrna’s first child, Kathy was born.

Vernon was discharged on June 7, 1956 and the family returned to Minnesota, settling in Island Park. Vern worked at Mammoth Furnace Company in St. Louis Park until the spring of 1957 when they moved to a farm near Springfield. Soon after, David and Holly were added to the family. To supplement income, Vern also drove school bus for a few years. Early in 1963, the Parkers moved to Morgan and during this time, James joined the family.

In 1966, Vernon and Myrna purchased a farm 10 miles north of Blackduck at Busy Corners where Vern farmed for his remaining years. At Blackduck, Scott joined the family after several foster children were also added: Becky, Calvin, Alvin, Marvin and Margie White. In addition, Myrna and Vern hosted many BSU foreign students. To supplement farm income, Vernon also worked a while for the Federal Forestry, maintaining various properties including his favorite spot, Shogren Dam.

Throughout life, Vernon was always fun-loving and he enjoyed roller skating, music, talking about family and history. He was an avid reader, devouring farming, Ford, history and mission story books. He loved stock car races and had a hot rod that he tinkered on all of his life. Annually, Vern trekked to the Steam Threshers Reunion in Rollag and attended the Beltrami County Fair where he enjoyed the music on the Shutter Stage.

In his later years, Vern often cooked, serving up his delicious pressure-cooked beans or the best potato pancakes ever eaten. Vernon enjoyed traveling, sometimes making a trip with his trucker sons or taking a jaunt down memory lane with his “girls” to what he called “home country” where he’d grown up.

Vern loved to share Ole and Lena jokes and he had a variety of witty phrases that were often heard such as sending you off after a good visit with a hearty, “You come good home now!”

Vernon maintained a steadfast walk with God through life, being a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church since 1944. As a young person he attended church at Morgan and later his family attended the Northome and Bemidji churches. Vern talked often of the day when Christ will return to raise the dead from their peaceful slumber to join those who are still living and journey to the splendor of heaven to be forever with God and those we love. Vernon hoped that each of his family and friends would be a part of that glorious day!

Vernon had long hoped to see his 90th birthday but he and his family trusted that God knew best. After treatment in Fargo, ND for a serious stroke, he returned to his beloved Blackduck where he lived one more day. On the afternoon of March 15, 2022, after listening to several of his favorite songs and scriptures, he slipped into a slumber where he will be awakened by his dear Jesus someday.

Remembering a life well lived are Vernon’s wife, Myrna; children Kathy (Roy) Parke, David (Deb) Parker, Holly (Bob) Ewert, James Parker and Scott (Sylvia) Parker; foster children Becky (Tom) Gregory, Calvin (Val) White, Marvin White, Margie (Alford) Brown; 17 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; a brother-in-law, Randy (Nancy) Andersen; many cousins and a host of precious friends.

Those preceding Vernon in death’s slumber include his parents, Fred and Helga, an infant sister Mari Anne and a foster son, Alvin White. Vernon was the last of 7 Parker cousins. And, of 35 Andersen cousins, 30 preceded Vernon in death and 4 survive him.

memorial service

Funeral Services for Vernon

April 1, 2022

Bemidji Seventh-day Adventist Church 4400 Eckles Rd NW, Bemidji, MN 56601, USA

Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m., Thursday, March 31, 2022, at the Cease Family Funeral Home in Bemidji, and one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be in the Spring at the Frohn Eastside Cemetery in Bemidji, MN.

Funeral/Cremation Provider: Cease Family Funeral Home