- Date Of Birth: January 27, 1919
- Date Of Death: November 3, 2014
- State: Montana
Laura Georgia (Wick) Parr, age 95, died of natural causes on November 3, 2014.
Laura is survived by her son, Dan Lee Parr and grandson, Dax (Christa) Wade Parr of Fort Collins, CO; nephews, Robert A. Wick of Great Falls, MT, Larry (Cathy) Conner of Indiana; nieces, Marion (Gene) Masters of Old Town, Florida, Elfie (Harold) Morgan of Santa Maria, CA.
Laura was born in Lake Mills, Iowa on January 27, 1919 to parents Halvor and Clara Wick. She was baptized on Feb. 23, 1919 in Winnebago Congregation Church, Winnebago County Iowa by Pastor Johannes Gransku. When she was nine years old, she traveled to Great Falls, MT with her mother, two sisters, Andrea and Harriet, her brother Teroy, and her brother’s dog, who was a decedent of Rin Tin Tin. A neighbor from Lake Mills drove the family to Montana to join her father who had gone to Montana earlier to find work. Things were hard in 1928. When the family found a place to live and were settled, her parents, who were good Lutherans, immediately joined Our Savior’s Lutheran Church. She was confirmed in a class held by Rev. A. Lunde in 1932 – 1934. Laura attended elementary schools and graduated from Great Falls High School in 1937.
On June 23, 1938, she was joined in marriage to Joseph Parr Jr. at Our Saviors Lutheran Church by Rev. Lunde. The couple was to be the first couple married in the new Our Savior’s Church at 14th St and 1st Ave N., but the building was not finished enough, so the wedding was held in old Our Savior’s church on 15th St. and 2nd Ave N. When her boys started Sunday School, Laura and Joseph transferred to First English Lutheran church, so they could attend where their four cousins attended. Laura was a long time member of First English, where she was a member and leader of Hannah Circle, and President of the ladies Organization.
Laura worked for the Paris of Montana, Buttrey Dept. Store. (in the boys dept.) before going to work for I.G.A. grocery store. She was a meat wrapper for 15 yrs, retiring in 1973. Laura was a care giver in their home for Joseph for 12 years until his death. She loved her Lord, her family, and her church family.
Laura enjoyed volunteering at the hospital office and the Pink Ladies of Columbus Hospital, at First English Lutheran Church, the PTA’s of her children’s schools and other organizations as the Red Cross, The American Heart Association, and the Lung Association.
Laura had a great love for animals. She took in dozens of lost or stray cats & dogs and gave them a good home. Many of the lost animals were traced and returned to their owners. She also cared for friends’ dogs while they went on vacation.
Laura was preceded in death by her husband Joseph Parr Jr. on Thanksgiving of 1997; her parents, Halvor and Clara Wick; her brother, Teroy A Wick (Elsie); sister, Andrea (Christiansen) Gardner (Bill) of Great Falls; sister, Harriet (Conner) Ramberg (Harold) of Havre, MT; nephew, Stephen Conner of Havre, MT; nephew, Russell Wick of Great Falls; niece, Carol Kuich of Seattle, WA; and niece Arlene of WA.
Her pride and joy were her two sons, Jim and Dan Parr, and grandson Dax Parr.
This is a poem written by Mrs. Clara Wick (Laura’s mother) about Laura as a child:
Laura
There my Laura dances as the wind doth blow.
Her blond hair flying out there in the breeze,
Gently she puts the wreath upon her hair,
As she trips along the meadow fair.
Her voice breaks out in song,
She is always happy as the day is long.
Her cheeks are so rosy, her eyes are so bright,
My sweet darling Laura, you’re the love of my life.
