Eileen Parker 

of Bozeman, 89, died peacefully Saturday evening, Dec. 
12, 2009. 

In her own words: Eileen was born on Sept. 3, 1920, on 
a farm in Pembina County in North Dakota, the long-
awaited daughter of Otto and Zetta Pudil. As a little 
girl she enjoyed visits of nearby neighbor kids, and 
made pets of many of the farmyard animals that were 
readily available. These included two horses that she 
loved and which gave her the opportunity of becoming 
an avid horsewoman as she matured. 

She was schooled during the depression years of the 
"dirty thirties" and attended a country school with 39 
pupils, eight grades and one teacher. She went from 
there to high school in Pembina, where she graduated 
as valedictorian of her class, followed by business 
college where she perfected skills that would serve 
her well throughout her life. 

She married her high school sweetheart, Lloyd Parker, 
June 8, 1941, but World War II was raging and he was 
soon drafted into the army. While Lloyd was sent to 
Europe, she returned to Pembina with her young son, 
Richard, who had been born in Little Rock, Ark. She 
accepted a position as assistant postmaster where she 
particularly enjoyed the selling of U.S. Government 
Bonds, which lots of folks were buying to help the war 
effort, and getting to say "hi" to everyone in town as 
they picked up their mail each day. 

Eventually, the war ended and her husband returned 
with only minor wounds, thankfully, and she resigned 
her job and happily assumed her obligations as 
"domestic engineer." Three more children, Lyle, Janice 
and Roger, completed the family. 

Like many other women in town, she volunteered her 
spare time to promoting and carrying out charitable 
work in the community. She was president of the 
American Legion Auxiliary, the Methodist Church 
organizations of WSCS and the UMW, as well as a Sunday 
school teacher, choir member, and a Girl Scout leader 
for many years. She also filled in at the high school 
teaching typing and other business courses. Her most 
enjoyable positions were her role as Worthy Matron of 
the Pembina chapter of the Order of Eastern Star and 
as District Deputy of the Grand Chapter of the North 
Dakota OES. She enjoyed her work with the service and 
community organizations, playing softball, bowling, 
reading, working crossword puzzles, cards and board 
games. 

When it was time for her husband to retire, they 
decided to sell their home and move to Bozeman where 
they had grandchildren growing up. They loved their 
years there and treasured visits from all their 
children and grandchildren, of whom they were so 
proud. In recent years, Eileen was a member of the 
Aspen Pointe community and enjoyed the wonderful 
friends and caring staff she found there. 

Eileen is preceded in eternity by her husband, Lloyd; 
parents, Otto and Zetta Pudil; brothers, Glenn and 
Milton. 

She is survived by her four children: son, Richard 
(Roxanne) Parker and their children, Angela (Eric) 
Henze, and great-grandsons, Everest and Bryce, and 
Gregg Parker, great granddaughters, Peyton and Sydney 
of San Jose, Calif.; son, Lyle (Laurel) Parker and 
their sons, Bryan (Julie) Parker, and Michael (Andrea) 
Parker of Spokane, Wash.; daughter, Janice (James) 
Feist of Bozeman, and their children, Jamie (Kirk) 
Daniels and great-grandson, Wylie, Katie (Craig) 
Johnson and great-granddaughter, Makenzie of Seattle, 
and Chelsea of San Diego; son, Roger (Pam) Parker and 
their children, Zachary and Tess of Fox Island, Wash. 

A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, 
Dec. 21, at Bozeman United Methodist Church. 

Should friends desire, memorials may be made to 
Bozeman United Methodist Church. 

Arrangements are in the care of Dokken-Nelson Funeral 
Service; www.dokkennelson.com. 

Published in Bozeman Daily Chronicle on December 16, 
2009