Alta Ruth Parkin

Alta Ruth Parkin, 90, passed peacefully with her loved ones at her side on December 23, 2020 at Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House in Bettendorf. Weerts Funeral Home is handling the arrangements. Per her wishes, cremation rites have been accorded and her urn will be buried next to her husband in Glendale Cemetery, LeClaire, IA. Due to the current pandemic, a funeral service will not be held and the family will schedule a Celebration of Life later in 2021. In lieu of flowers, we ask that memorials be made to the Silver Creek Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star in LeClaire and that you all cherish each and every day and hold the one you love a little tighter in memory of Alta.

Alta was born on May 23, 1930 in Elgin, Iowa to Bjarne “Barney” and Renetta (Ruroden) Larson. She graduated from Elgin high School and attended Upper Iowa University where she met the love of her life, Donald Parkin; they were married on March 11, 1949.

Alta worked as a teacher, bank teller, and realtor during her long life. She lived in the Quad Cities area for many years, and loved living life on the banks of the Mississippi River. In 1993, when they were both retired, Don and Alta moved to Las Vegas, Nevada, where they lived until Don’s death in 1999. She then relocated back home to the Quad Cities to be closer to her family.

Alta was an active member of the Order of the Eastern Star for many years, and served in leadership roles for both the Silver Creek Chapter in LeClaire, and the Grand Chapter of Iowa. She loved to travel, whether it was a bus trip to Branson or a cruise to Norway. A Norwegian by birth and at heart, one of her favorite things was making lefse with her daughters and granddaughters just before Christmas. Rumor has it that a little wine was consumed during this activity.

She is survived by her children Jerry (Randall) Parkin, Debi (Mike) Stevens, Bryan Parkin, Karen Parkin, and Mike Parkin; nine grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren, with another due in April; and three great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents Bjarne and Renetta Larson; husband Don Parkin; her brothers Bernell and Arthur Larson and her sister Shirley Kay Boese.