Lois Alvira Parrill

Lois Parrill was born in Big Fork Minnesota on September 30th, 1933 to Alfred and Alma Erickson. As the youngest of 4 and the only girl, she was cherished. Her mother would comment every time she had a boy that Lois wasn’t born yet.

She was raised on a homestead by a lake in the North Woods of Minnesota, enjoying the many activities that provided. Her mom and dad taught their children to fish, garden, swim, farm, log, ice skate and hunt on their vast property. While it was a hard life at times, these lessons served her and her brothers well in life.

Lois loved watching others skating on the lake and always wanted to have a pair of skates of her own. She begged her parents for a long time for the skates; however, due to a very limited family income, the purchase of the skates was economically prohibitive at that time. Finally, one Christmas her parents were able to save enough money to purchase the skates for her as a Christmas present. She was ecstatic when she finally received the much sought after skates, and immediately went out to the frozen lake to go skating. Unfortunately, after skating and twirling around for a while, the edge of one of the skates caught on an imperfection in the ice, causing her to fall and break her arm, further delaying her much anticipated winter skating fun.

Where her family lived, schooling was only available up through eighth grade. Therefore, in order for her to receive a high school education, she would have to move to a bigger city. With the support of her parents, at the age of 14, she moved to Grand Rapids, Minnesota, living with friends of the family. She took care of the family's children while completing her high school education. During this time, she also managed to be involved with multiple clubs and other activities. This included the Glee Club, with her love for singing enabling her to letter all four years of high school.

After high school, she wanted to escape the cold and just relax for a while and have some fun. So, she purchased a ticket on a Greyhound bus to Arizona, the one place she knew would be warm. Enjoying herself for a while she wanted to ensure she went back with a great tan. Unfortunately, she laid out too long, receiving a severe sun burn on her legs. This kept her from enjoying her last night in Arizona and throughout her long trip back.

After graduation she worked in Minneapolis for about a year until she once again had enough of the cold. With enough money to pay for a week's worth of expenses, and without knowing anyone there, she purchased a one-way bus ticket to Denver. For a few days while getting herself situated, she was able to stay at the YMCA. From there she established herself in the local area by quickly getting a job which enabled her to move into a boarding house for women.

At 19, she was dating a man and they went to enjoy a picnic by a lake with his family. As they arrived Lois spotted a boat overturned with people clinging to it. Of course, being a strong swimmer, she wanted to help them. The only other person there who could swim was a 16-year-old boy who just got his arm cast off. When the dire situation was made known to the others on the beach, they began stopping people driving by, gathering chains and ropes to help pull in the boat. Lois swam with the chains and ropes as they dragged along the bottom of the lake. With the help of the young man, she was able to get the ropes and chains to the boat and hook them on. Then the bystanders were able to pull in the boat. Unfortunately, when it got to shallower water it sank. Thankfully all were able to make it to the shore from there. Lois saved several lives that day and became a heroine to those around her.

After many other adventures in her life, Lois met Harold Parrill in a bar. Was it love at first sight? Only they know, but they did fall in love and got married on October, 3 1963. Almost exactly one year later (Oct. 5), they were happy to announce the birth of their first child, a baby girl named Kellie. Their second child was a boy, born on October 31, 1966, named Gene. On February 29, 1968 (Leap Year), another boy was born, whom they named William. Both Harold and Lois were so happy to have these bundles of joy in their life.

Their family journey started in a little house on Chambers Road. After a few years, as their family expanded, they moved to Tennyson Street before Gene was born.

Lois enjoyed holding family and friend parties on the back patio or in the basement. Many a Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year, and birthday celebrations were held there.

Lois worked as a book keeper and secretary for many years and continued when she started her family. Eventually she was able to be a stay-at-home mom, very involved with PTA and the kids’ schools. As her children got older, she was a crossing guard near her house to earn some extra money.

In the summer she always had a garden and taught her children about it. That tradition was taught to the next generation.

In the summer of 1976, Lois and her family moved to Acres Green in southern Denver Metro Area.

Since her children were a little older, she went back to work as a bookkeeper.

One of her children’s first memories of this new area was the fair. To be in the parade, their bikes needed to be decorated, so Lois went to work helping them create what they wanted. Kellie was a flying saucer; Gene and a friend were a dragon and Bill had an old-fashioned car. Of course, they won 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places!

The following summers, she taught her children about the fair and participating in it. They grew veggies and flowers to show and did crafts, winning many ribbons.

Her daughter Kellie was sad that she had to give up Campfire Girls after the move and Lois decide to become a leader for her. Many adventures awaited them both during this time.

During this time Lois and Harold found a church to be involved with. They became involved with the AWANA program for their children and continued as leaders even after their kids graduated from High School.

As her children got older, she was proud to watch them in their various endeavors: football, basketball, volleyball, marching band, and Olympics of the mind. Even though she was a strict mother, she was also loving and giving with what she had. She taught by example how to live a better life with prayer and Bible reading. Although the lessons taught then didn’t come to fruition at that time, they were later remembered by her children and used in their lives.

It was during this time Lois worked for United Artists, spending years in the accounting and bookkeeping department. Her family was blessed by that job with free movies.

Lois had a passion for politics and because of this she became an election volunteer and even an election judge. Harold joined her for many years. Even there her gift of hospitality shone forth. She was always making sure her workers were fed.

As each of her children graduated, she was there to cheer them on and have a party in their honor. Funny enough, it was during Kellie’s graduation that she met the love of her life, Bruce, whom she later married. After graduation, Gene went into the Air Force, and Bill went into the Navy. Each of the boys later met and married their loves. Lois was a part of all three of her children's weddings.

Kellie married first to Bruce Hallman and now has 5 children, 4 of whom are married. They also have given Lois 6 great grandchildren.

Bill married next to Shelly, and they now have 3 children, 2 of whom of are married now.

Gene married Danielle and they have 2 sons.

While in the military the boys were able to get degrees, and of course Lois and Harold had to be there for those graduations. Lois had a beaming smile that could be seen from outer space.

Many times, Lois and Harold visited their children in the far-flung places that they moved to. Since the boys were in the military, that meant going to exotic or European places to see them. Travel was one of Lois’s loves and these were exciting new places to go.

She made her house available to anyone who was in need, including last minute guests when children came home with friends. She’d say “We’ll put a blanket on the floor and another stone in the pot.” Willingly she gave to children and others at a cost to herself making sure they had what they needed, emphasizing her gift of hospitality and loving others as she wanted to be loved.

She and Harold became involved with Mission Hills Church around 1990 and stayed active members until she could no longer drive. This became another place for Lois to spread her gift of hospitality. Sunday school parties and church activities kept her busy after retiring.

An example of her generous heart came when Gene retired from the military after 24 years and moved back to Colorado. He, Danielle, and their 2 young sons had no place to go and no job yet. Lois and Harold told them they could move in with them. Because of this, 18 months later they had saved enough money to buy their own house.

Travel was a love and when Lois and Harold retired, (even before) they went on many cruises. The Balkans, Hawaii, and England were some of her favorites. The trips to England and Hawaii were also to visit their sons.

As the family grew, she enjoyed babysitting and visiting her 10 grandkids. Again, the travel bug brought her visiting them as much as she could. Even though she didn’t see them often she prayed for them continually.

When Harold passed away, Lois decided her home was too large for her so she moved to a senior living apartment. Even there, she became involved. She served as a floor greeter and made people feel welcome.

Lois took to her new life with gusto. For a few years she kept a small garden plot and enjoyed tending it. As the years went by, she had to give up this endeavor, but still liked looking at what others had. This community was a home with good friends, both in the residents and the staff.

She was a giver not just with time but financially. Some of her favorite groups were Wounded Warriors, the police support groups, Christian Liberty, legal councils, and of course missions. She loved to help others and felt it was her Christian duty to do so.

While desiring to find fireworks on the 4th of July, Lois took a walk that resulted in a fall near where she lived. Always adventurous, this fall unfortunately put her in the hospital. After a short stay in rehab for a broken leg, wrist and neck, Lois was returned to the hospital. Her health declined but not her spirit. She joked with family and staff.

Lois went be with Jesus and her beloved Harold on July 22, 2024.

She is preceded in death by her beloved husband Harold Parrill, father and mother Alfred and Alma (Kjeldson) Erickson, her three brothers Ralph and his wife Elsie, Harold and his wife Rosie, and Kenneth Erickson. Also, her father and mother-in-law George and Frances Parrill, brother-in-law George Jr., sister-in-law Mary and her husband Paul Thomas, sister-in-law Gladys Adamson, sister-in-law Dorothy, Brother-in-law Jimmy and his wife Sue.

She is survived by her daughter Kellie and her husband Bruce Hallman, Gene and his wife Danielle, and Bill and his wife Shelly.

Lois's grandchildren are Levi Hallman, Nissi (Hallman) Gates, Bekah (Hallman) Richard, Dena (Hallman) Renyer, Gideon Hallman; Jayden Parrill, Zackary Parrill; Elizabeth (Parrill) Blakely, Liam Parrill and Aaron Parrill

Her great-grandchildren are Elley Boyd, Christopher Boyd, Cyrus Boyd, Yvette Boyd, Callen Renyer and Finnick Renyer.