Keith S. Parker
March 8, 1937-February 1, 2024
Keith S. Parker, 86 of Parma, Idaho passed away of natural causes in his home on Thursday, February 1, 2024.
Keith was born on March 8, 1937, in Rexburg, Idaho to Don Carlos Parker and Susie Belle Marlow Parker. He grew up in Rexburg with three sisters and one brother. He also had an older half-brother and sister. He graduated from Madison High School in Rexburg in 1955. After graduating from High School, he attended Ricks College in Rexburg and later attended and graduated from the University of Utah in 1966 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services.
He married Marilyn Kay Waite of La Grande, Oregon on August 1, 1961, in the Logan Utah Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They became the parents of nine children: five sons and four daughters. Throughout their marriage they lived in Salt Lake City, Utah, Boise, Idaho and eventually moved to Parma, Idaho where they have lived for just over 50 years.
Upon graduating from the University of Utah, the family moved to Boise, Idaho where Keith worked for Gate City Steel as a Purchasing Agent/Manager. In 1973 the family moved to Parma, Idaho where he worked for Agri-Lines. In 1980 he, along with others bought the manufacturing section of Agri-Lines and founded Parma Company where he was the Owner/President until his death. Throughout the years at Parma Company, he worked hard to build a successful business that cultivated several connections throughout the farming industry. In 1987, Parma Company was named the Idaho Small Business of the Year through the Idaho Association of Commerce and Industry. He was able to travel to Washington D.C. to be honored for this and to also meet with the other Small Businesses of the Year across the nation. He was the President of the National Association of Purchasing Agents from 1978-79 and was the President of the Idaho Small Business Association in 1988.
In his free time Keith loved spending time outdoors and always finding ways to keep busy. Growing up in Rexburg meant he had the opportunity to snow ski and find enjoyment for the sport. He spent many winters of his youth skiing many of the mountains and ski resorts between Eastern Idaho and Utah. He continued his enjoyment for skiing and passed this love down to some of his children as well. He also had a great love for horses. He enjoyed taking time to care of and riding his horses. He frequently took his horses on Saturday rides in the Owyhee Mountains with his friends and on hunting trips with his sons. While at home he spent countless hours working on the family’s small farm in Apple Valley. He worked hard to remodel the old farmhouse the family lived in to the beautiful home it is today. Adding new additions to the home and always finding new projects to make the house and property the very loved place that it is today. He took great pride in his home and farm that the family has lovingly named “Parker Ranch”. Later in life, he was able to achieve his dream of owning “a little house in the middle of the woods” when he and Marilyn bought a cabin just outside of Cascade, Idaho. The cabin has been a labor of love and has become a place where the whole family has loved and spent time creating lasting memories.
Throughout his life Keith was a very active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served in numerous callings including a Counselor in the Bishopric as well as faithfully serving for nearly 20 years as the Ward Finance Clerk and Ward Clerk. He was a lifelong missionary who served five missions. He first served as a young man in the Great Lakes Mission from 1958-1960 and later with his wife Marilyn, served 4 missions as Senior Missionaries. They served in the Texas Houston Mission 2007-2009, Idaho Boise Mission 2010-2011, BYU-Idaho Pathway Mission 2012-2014 and finally St. George Utah Temple Visitors’ Center Mission 2015-2016. His love of missionary work was also passed down to his family and was proud to see all five of his sons and one daughter serve missions as well as several of his grandchildren who have served or are currently serving missions. Keith and Marilyn also served faithfully in the Boise Idaho Temple and the Meridian Idaho Temple for 15 years before, during and after their missionary service. Keith also had a great love for genealogy work and spent countless hours researching his family history.
Keith is survived by his wife of 62 years, Marilyn and their nine children. Lisa (Jeff) Isaak of Eagle, Idaho, Greg (Dara) of Kuna, Idaho, Jeff of Parma, Idaho, Randy (Lynette) of Nampa, Idaho, Jennifer (Tyson) Taylor of Ammon, Idaho, Melissa (Matt) Knox of Boise, Idaho, Adam (Tanya) of Saratoga Springs, Utah, Amy (Chad) Calkins of Centennial, Colorado, and Steven (Kayla) of Boise, Idaho; 30 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren; and one sister, Elaine Parker Anderson of Saratoga Springs, Utah.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Don Carlos Parker and Susie Belle Marlow Parker, his siblings Jeannine Parker, Marilyn Parker Mackey, Carlos Parker, Elden Parker and Luella Parker Smith; and one granddaughter, Sydney Reed Parker, one grandson, John Albert Calkins and one great-granddaughter Hailey Janelle Isaak.
Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, February 9, 2024, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Parma, Idaho, 307 E. Andrews Avenue. Friends may visit with the family from 10-10:45 a.m. at the church prior to the services. Interment will follow the funeral services at the Lower Boise Cemetery 22410 Ten Davis Road, Parma, Idaho.
Zoom link for the funeral service: https://zoom.us/j/96518532038