Uncle Raymond's Obituary...

Raymond G. Parks, 70
Thursday, 18 February 2010

Raymond Glen Parks, 70, of Moreland, passed away Tuesday, February 16, 2010, at Intermountain Medical Center in Murray, Utah from injuries sustained in an accident.

He was born April 11, 1939, in Blackfoot, Idaho, the son of Rulon Robert and Martha Van Orden Parks.Raymond graduated from Snake River High School in 1957 and attended Ricks College.
He married his high school sweetheart, Paula Cushman, on August 7, 1959, in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple.

Raymond was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints where he had been stake Sunday School president and was currently serving on the High Council.He was a well-known farmer in the Blackfoot area where he has lived his entire life.In 1978, he was elected as state representative for Bingham County where he served for 14 years. He was a member of the Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee. While there, he was instrumental in securing funding for the building at State Hospital South. He helped make the I-15 corridor through the lavas safer for travel. He also wrote the agricultural lien law which gives farmers a renewable lien on their crops. He was also started the agricultural program at ISU. He was a past district chairman of Potato Growers of Idaho and was Potato Grower of the Year in 2003. He was also inducted into the Agricultural Hall of Fame. It was Raymond’s privilege to carry the Olympic Torch prior to the 2002 Olympics, an experience of a lifetime. He was currently chairman of the board of Agricultural Credit Association.

He is survived by his wife, Paula of Blackfoot; children, Perriann (Steve) Beyers of Draper, Utah, Michael Parks of Sandy, Utah, Shelley Parks of South Jordan, Utah, Kristin (Mark) Wolfgramm of Springville, Utah, and Alan (Nicole) Parks of Blackfoot; brother, Kenneth (Gail) Parks of Ammon and sister, Delores (Marvin) Pittman of Pocatello and nine grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings, Dean, Marvin, Clifford, Lorna Bensen and Verla Sasser.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, February 20, 2010, at the Blackfoot West LDS Stake Center, 101 N. 900 W., in Blackfoot, Idaho, with Bishop Andrew Blight conducting.Family will meet with friends and relatives from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at Hawker Funeral Home, 132 South Shilling Avenue in Blackfoot, and for one hour prior to services at the church