William John Park

William John Park died on September 3, 2010, at the age of 100 years. Bill was born on April 13, 1910 to Fred and Nellie (Reed) Park in Ash Creek, Dowling Twp., Haakon Co., South Dakota. He had 12 siblings that have preceded him in death, seven of whom survived childbirth, two brothers Otis and Wilson, and five sisters, Ethel Bonato, Eva Foley, Irene Johnson, Josephine Jorgensen, and Velma Tombaugh.

On January 30, 1946 he wed June Anita Brown in Port Angeles, WA. June passed away October 15, 1973. William and Marian Juanita Beckner were married February 14, 1974 in Yakima, Washington. Marian passed away April 6, 2010, just six days prior to Bill's 100th birthday.

Bill completed the eighth grade in school and left school to work on the family farm as well as other farming jobs, including work as a sheep herder in South Dakota. He served in the US Army during World War II in Alaska. He lived in Yakima since the 1951 and worked at various jobs, including many years as a custodian at the Bon Marche, National Bank of Commerce, Bethel Nazarene Church, West Valley Church of the Nazarene, and Apostolic Faith Church. Bill also worked for Texas Oil Company in the sale of roofing materials and actual application of those products. He also worked in the Civilian Conservation Corp in his early years. He aptly described himself as a Jack-of-All-Trades and there wasn't much he couldn't do. He was a very strong and hard working individual who worked into his 80's, and was always willing to lend a hand with projects folks were doing. Bill was also a good cook. He did his own mending and could often be found washing windows, vacuuming, shampooing carpets, or mopping floors.

Bill did not have any children of his own, but raised his brother's (Wilson) children (Patricia Ann, James Lester, and Glen Dell) after their mother died in 1955. In addition, Bill welcomed a large number of foster children into his home, whom he cared for with June during their marriage and then again with Marian during the early years of their marriage.

Bill was a man with an enormous faith in God and loved to attend worship services, church potlucks, and yearly camp meetings in Portland, OR until ill health no longer permitted him to do so. He loved to read the Bible and had read it from beginning to end many times. Most evenings Bill could be found sitting at the kitchen table reading his Bible and praying until bedtime. He also loved gospel music, especially music by Bill Gaither and the Crystal Cathedral Quartet. He loved playing Flinch, board games and working jigsaw puzzles with his family and friends. He will be missed by many loving nieces and nephews who always admired his strength of character and commitment to his faith in God, his extended church family, and friends he made over the long years of his life.

Bill and Marian were befriended by Barbara and Dennis Whitcher, angels sent to care for them in their final years, spending much of their personal time attending directly to their physical and spiritual needs. They both also received wonderful care from Troy Dixon, Certified Nursing Assistant at the nursing home where they resided until their passing.

Memorial services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 11, 2010 at Keith & Keith Terrace Heights Chapel.