Diane Marie (Klemenhagen) Parker

Missoula - Diane Marie (Klemenhagen) Parker passed peacefully at her home with loved ones at her side on June 19th. Diane was born in Long Prairie, Minnesota, on December 20th, 1939, to John “Bud” and Marie Klemenhagen. She was the first of what would be seven children blessed to the family. The family lived in Minnesota until moving to Conrad, Montana, when Diane was still a child. After graduating high school, Diane moved to Missoula to attend the St. Patrick’s School of Nursing. While there, she met her future husband, Gerald “Jerry” Parker-a student at the University of Montana School of Forestry. They were married on July 16, 1960, just a month after she graduated. They welcomed their first of three children on January 15th, 1962. Kelly Ann Parker was their first daughter, and they brought her home to a small and cozy trailer in Seeley Lake. In 1963, Jerry’s job took them to the Seattle area. On October 20th, 1964, they welcomed a son, Michael William Parker. Montana was calling them home, and they moved back to Missoula in 1965. This is where they welcomed their third child, Patricia Marie Parker. Diane’s husband took a job as the timber manager at Pyramid Mountain Lumber in Seeley Lake. The family eventually moved there in 1981, with Kelly staying behind in Missoula as she was out on her own by then. Diane and Jerry loved living in Seeley Lake as both loved the wildlife and the outdoors. This is where they lived until after Jerry passed and Diane moved back to Missoula in 2012 where she lived until her death.

Diane had a long history of helping others, professionally and personally. She was the supervisor of the Echocardiology Department at St. Patrick’s Hospital and staff nurse in the cardiac special procedures lab. She assisted in one of the first cardiac catheterization procedures at St. Pat’s. She helped establish the echocardiology department and taught herself to perform and understand echocardiograms alongside Dr. George Reed. She worked in ICU/CCU, worked with brain injured patients in rehab at Community Hospital and in a skilled nursing facility. While in Seattle she worked at Swedish Medical Center caring for orthopedic surgery patients. Her final two jobs were as a home health case manager for Partner’s in Home Care/Hospice in the Seeley-Swan area. She loved this job as she was able to care for people in their homes and provide more personalized and loving care. She also became the nurse at the Seeley Swan Medical Center in Seeley Lake helping many locals and people just passing through. It was not unusual for people to show up at her home at any hour of the day needing medical assistance if the medical center was closed. She was a caregiver by nature of both human and animal. It was a standing family joke that if anyone passed, they wanted to be reincarnated as one of her pets. She was a caregiver to her mother and her mother-in-law, and to her husband in his final days.

In her retirement, she became even more involved with the Living Water Catholic Church in Seeley Lake. This was a “labor of love” for Diane, and she did this with pride and passion. She also began making beautiful quilts and joined a quilt guild. Most of the quilts she lovingly made were for family and loved ones. She did enter some contests and has a blue ribbon to show for her skill. She mainly enjoyed the creativity and camaraderie. She also enjoyed teaching others, especially her family members, how to sew and quilt. When she moved back to Missoula after Jerry passed, she devoted every Wednesday to Quilts for Kids, a non-profit organization that makes quilts for kids in need.

Diane was preceded in death by her parents John “Bud” and Marie Klemenhagen, her husband Gerald “Jerry” Parker, and her daughter, Kelly Ann Parker. Diane is survived by her son Michael (Lynn) of Philipsburg, grandsons Levi (Olivia) of Clinton and Ryan (Ilsa) of Philipsburg; daughter Tricia (Tom) of Missoula, granddaughters Sydney and Madison of Fort Collins and grandsons Zack and Carson of Missoula; two great granddaughters Delilah and Inara and one great grandson, Milo; four sisters-Karen (Chuck), Jill (Tom), Sue (Pat), and Janet (John) and two brothers-Bud (Jan) and Kim (Andrea); and many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews, friends and loved ones.

Funeral mass will be held at St. Francis Xavier Church of Missoula at 10:30am on Tuesday, July 2nd with Father Michael Poole officiating. At the start of the service, the St. Patrick’s Hospital Nightingale Honor Guard will be performing a ceremony for Diane. The full service will have a livestream that can be found on the church’s website, Facebook, or YouTube for those that are unable to physically attend. There will be a reception to follow downstairs at Reidy Hall. A private family interment will take place at the Missoula City Cemetery.

Diane had family members that wanted to share a special memory, story, or general feelings of Diane. These are as follows:

Karen (sister): What she remembers growing up with Diane is that she was a trickster. She remembers once coming home late from a babysitting job and trying to be quiet so as to not wake anyone, when Diane jumped out and scared the heck out of her. In retaliation, Karen found a love letter from Diane’s boyfriend at the time and walked around the house reading it aloud. When Diane found out, she chased Karen out of the house and down the street. Karen remembers being impressed at how quickly Diane could run down the street after her without shoes on.

Jill (sister): Diane cherished the annual “whoop-up” parade in her beloved hometown of Conrad. She was a skilled baton twirler, always shining brightly as she proudly marched in front of her high school band. In 1957, she was honored as the Queen of the Festival, a title that celebrated her grace and spirit. Her memory will forever twirl in our hearts, a testament to the joy and light she brought into our lives.

Bud (brother): His first year of college he was living at Diane and Jerry’s house in their basement. It was always a big deal in his family-especially with their dad-that they ate meals together. This was continued at Diane’s house. The very first meal that he was served at Diane’s house was liver and onions. Whenever this was served in his childhood home, his mother would have to make him something different as he wouldn’t eat it. Bud said, however, because he was putting his feet under Diane’s table, he was determined no matter what to choke down that liver and onions. So, he did so, and it turned out that he actually liked liver and onions. So, to this day every now and then if he’s at a restaurant and sees it on the menu, he will order liver and onions with this memory. His big sister helped him figure out that he didn’t hate that meal after all!

Sue (sister): Diane was a role model in the lives of so many as well as her family. She was a mentor, a confidant, a friend, a caregiver, and a beloved sister. She taught us all grace, humility, generosity of spirit, simple kindness, love, and the importance of showing up for others. I have two special memories that I will cherish. We spent hours sitting at her kitchen table “solving the world’s problems,” as she would say. When we were finished, we would just sit back and laugh at ourselves! Over the past two years, I had the great privilege of discussing the Bible with her as we fellowshipped together in an in-depth Bible study. Through that time, we grew closer to Jesus, and most certainly grew closer to each other.

Janet (sister): Diane’s Seeley Lake home always seemed to be the gathering place for family reunions, 4th of July celebrations, and a shower hot spot for family camping at Hotel Point! She opened her home for family fun time come rain or shine. Memories of the guys’ belly bumping contests, horseshoe games, sharing and eating delicious food, hours of chatting on her big front porch, drinking her signature apricot coolers, campfires next to the little guest cabin and the calming sound of the creek running through her property. Thanks for the memories big sis.

Mike (son): Mom’s nursing skills were predominant my whole life. I would look forward to getting sick in a strange way because I loved the attention, passion, and food I would get (besides staying home from school). I remember Mom being the only one in the state who could perform echocardiograms and I would get out of school and get paid $20 for being a guinea pig at St. Pat’s Hospital while she performed the procedure for doctors and students. She taught me to lay out my clothes the night before so I’d be ready the next day-which I still do at age 59. She taught me to always put myself in other peoples’ shoes because everyone has their own version of any situation. I’ve always liked all the artistic things she enjoyed like ceramics, painting, stitching, and especially quilting. I’ve used a king-sized bullseye quilt on my bed for the last 21 years. She was clearly the best. Love you mom. I still touch your picture on the wall at St. Pat’s.

Tricia (daughter): I have too many memories of my mom to pick just one. My mom to me was “home.” No matter what was going on in my world or how I was feeling, it just took a trip to see my mom to bring me home. It wasn’t what was said, what was done, it was just what she was. It was the little things-like the potato salad waiting in the fridge, watching her feed the birds, the smell of the towels after a shower. Everything she did was just my home. That is what I will miss the most, the feeling of comfort and safety and knowing no matter how bad things seemed, she could make it feel like it would all be okay. Thank you for mom for being my home from day one-I wouldn’t be the person I am today without the safety of a home to start from. We’ve got this now, mom. Your shift is over. I love you and I will see you on the other side.

Ryan (grandson): Grandma was always caring and loving. She always looked out for others even if they were furry and had four legs. I stayed with grandma for a year when I was in college. I came home one day after class and she had a new dog in the house. I asked her where he came from and she said, “I found him on my walk and he needs a place to live.” That was when Chewy came into her life. That’s how grandma was. She loved helping someone or something in need and never thought twice. When I stayed with her she always made the best sandwiches. It took me years to figure out how she made them so good. She used butter on one side and mayo on the other. But I could still never make one as tasty as she did because she also put love into it and I’ll never forget that.

Sydney (granddaughter): Grandma, I can’t even begin to name all the wonderful times we’ve had. The first one I remember, though, was at Christmas when the kids table was curious about the wine you were drinking…so you poured us a tiny bit in fancy glasses and diluted it with Sprite. It was the worst thing I had ever tasted, and I’ll never forget that, but I will thank you for a funny memory that time cannot erase. That is more special than anything. I wish I could give you one last hug and kiss on the forehead. I miss you so much and I hope you’ll be ready to toast with “Sprite-wine” when I join you one day. I love you!

Zack (grandson): Grandma, where should I start? Potato salad or possibly spaghetti. Probably corn dip. You spent your entire life caring for others. This includes me, my siblings and your family. You welcomed us in with open arms and I couldn’t be happier to have called you my grandma. You were so selfless through life and I’m glad to have been able to help you in these last recent years. Never once did you complain, not to me or anyone. You always kept pushing, never gave up. You were one of the strongest people I knew. If I could be a fraction of what you were, I know I’ll do just fine. Say “hi” to everyone for me. Love you lots.

Madison (granddaughter): One of my grandma’s favorite things to do was sewing and quilting. When I told her I wanted to be taught how to embroider, she was so excited! We took a trip to the craft store and filled up the cart. Over time, she taught me the patterns, and gave me all her tips and tricks. It is now one of my favorite things to do, and I am still inspired by the beautiful things she created. She won quilting awards and even made quilts for kids in need. She gifted me hand embroidered kitchen towels at Christmas, and now I get to look at them every day and be reminded of how amazing she was.

Carson (grandson): I remember when grandma often took me to a place called “quilts for kids.” We had to go up a whole flight of stairs, which was bad cause grandma couldn’t really walk up it very easily. I had to help her out and carry some of her things. I usually played games on my device while we were there, but I also watched her sew and was really fascinated. It was very cool because I got to meet some very nice people. I was very young, but it was so memorable that a lot of the details remain very clear.

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