Obituary of Betty Jane Parkhurst

Betty Jane Parkhurst, 91, passed away 22 August 2023 in Parma, Idaho, where she was a resident of the Parma Living Center. 

 

Betty was born 29 May 1932 in Salem, Oregon to Lyle G. and Inez M. Couch. She attended school in Oklahoma, Washington and Idaho where she graduated from Nampa High School in 1950. She met Sgt. Melvin Parkhurst, who was in the Air Force stationed at Mountain Home Air Force Base, when he drove over to Lake Lowell for the boat races. They married 1 March 1952 in Nampa, Idaho and raised six children while moving around the States during Melvin’s military career. Betty was a very active member of organizations wherever they were living.

 

After retiring from the Air Force, Melvin worked part time for a number of years in Alaska and they loved living up there. They finally settled in Spray, Oregon where Betty was once again an active member of the community and was involved with a variety of organizations including: the school board, the Spray Pioneer Museum, and the senior center, and she was a volunteer ambulance driver. 

 

As the only daughter, Betty was a tomboy and loved the outdoors, especially going camping, hunting, fishing, and driving around looking for wildlife. 

 

She will be missed by her six children: Annette (Paul) Gray; Denise (Randall) Davison; Duane Parkhurst; Teresa (James) Stolpe; Robert (Nola) Parkhurst; and Cynthia (Greg) Poor, as well as 13 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren. 

 

Betty was preceded in death by her husband Melvin and her brothers: Paul, Joe and Luther Couch. 

 

A private memorial service will be held. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association. Flahiff Funeral Chapel of Caldwell, Idaho was in charge of arrangements.

 

1. Couch family, about 1947, Bremerton, WA

Seated L-R Lyle, Paul, Inez.    Standing L-R Luther, Betty, Joe

2. Betty Jane Couch, graduation, 1950, Nampa High School

3. Betty Couch and Sgt. Melvin Parkhurst, wedding, 1 Mar 1952, Nampa, ID

4. Betty Parkhurst, commercial crabbing in Petersburg, AK, 2008

5. Betty Parkhurst at her 90th birthday party, Parma, ID

 

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