Frank S. Parker

Frank S. Parker, 81, Rapid City, SD, died Friday, Jan. 6, 2012 at the Golden Livingcenter Black Hills.

Frank was born Feb. 16, 1930 in Eagle Butte. He grew up in the Lantry/Eagle Butte area graduating from the Eagle Butte School. He served in the U.S. Air Force serving during the Korean conflict, stationed in Guam as a tail-gunner. He farmed/ranched with his father and brother. He married Evelyn French in Deadwood.

They later moved to Rapid City where they owned Marv’s Wrecker Service and Courthouse Conaco. He survived the 1972 flood and was proud to have his story documented at the Journey Museum. Later he purchased and built a reputable high-quality agriculture equipment business, Cow Country. His business was the first in the area to design and build heavy-duty buffalo and ranching equipment including a well designed sorting pen for the Wind Cave National Park Service. He was a self-taught draftsman and became well-known throughout the country for his buffalo equipment. Due to his health condition, he retired moving in 2004 to the Golden Livingcenter. He enjoyed calling Bingo, visiting and working on his picture albums and making Sunday night telephone calls to his family.

Frank is survived by his children: Cherie Farlee (Rod Hall); Vicki (Neil) Birkeland; Cameron Parker and Karleen Parker; his brother, Truman Parker, Belle Fourche; sisters Helen ‘Carol’ Taylor, Kansas City, KS; Grace Brandeberry, Garland, TX and Gladys Foster, Chicago; 13 grandchildren; 22 great grandchildren; 2 great-great grandchildren; many nieces and nephews and his former wives, Evelyn French, Spearfish and Arlene O’Leary, Timber Lake.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Robin Parker, his parents Floyd and Maude Parker, his sister Vera DeRover and one great-grandson.

Frank was a remarkable inventor, a perfectionist, a teacher, a lasting example of kindness, generosity and unconditional love and caring for his friends and family.