Helen M. Parks

Helen M. Parks, 85, of Rockwell, died Sunday, August 15, 2010, at the Good Shepherd Health Center in Mason City, after suffering apparent strokes. Funeral services will be held 10:30 A.M., Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at St. Peters Lutheran Church, 502 2nd Street South, Rockwell, with Pastor Joel Dahlen officiating. Interment will be at Memorial Park Cemetery in Mason City. Visitation will be from 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM on Tuesday, August 17, 2010, at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Avenue, Mason City, and continue one hour prior to the church service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Helen Parks memorial fund or the American Cancer Society, 130 4th St. S.W., Mason City, IA 50401. Helen Marie Vierkant was born on January 25, 1925, in Webster, Wisconsin, the daughter of Harry and Hazel (Meacham) Vierkant. She was raised on a farm near Rockwell and attended country school. She met Victor Parks, her future husband, when ones parents, invited the others family to dinner. They were married on November 8, 1942, and except for the past year at Good Shepherd Health Center, they had resided on the Parks family farm near Rockwell. Helen loved farm life, rummage sales and was a wonderful cook. She also loved dancing with her husband Victor at the Surf Ballroom and the Moose Lodge. She had a quick smile and a great sense of humor. In her mid teens, Helen worked as a housekeeper for Mrs. Major, above the Major Funeral Home. After her marriage to Victor, she was a farmwife, and after raising three children, she worked for many years at the State Liquor Store in Mason City. In the past year she would often jest about the fact that life had taken her from Major Funeral Home, to a block down the street at Good Shepherd, and would eventually take her back to Major Erickson Funeral Home. Helen is survived by her husband of 68 years: Victor; her sons: David (Diane) Parks of Clear Lake, IA; Jack Parks of Rockwell; one daughter: Donna (Casper) Ludvigson of Edgewood, IA; ten grandchildren and six great grandchildren; two brothers: Harry Vierkant of Citrus Heights, CA and Elmer (Mary Jo) Vierkant of Descanso, CA; one sister: Hazel Darg of Rockwell; one sister-in-law: Wilda Vierkant of Springfield, MO; and special friend/neighbor: Steve Sturges and family of Rockwell. She was preceded in death by her parents; three brothers: Newton, Paul and Benjamin Vierkant; two sisters: Faye, in infancy, and Ruth Kohler; father and mother-in-law: C.C. and Othella Parks.

Memorials:
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Helen Parks memorial fund or the American Cancer Society, 130 4th St. S.W., Mason City, IA 50401

Cemetery:
Interment will be at Memorial Park Cemetery in Mason City

Visitation:
Visitation will be from 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM on Tuesday, August 17, 2010, at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Avenue, Mason City, and continue one hour prior to the church service

Service:
Funeral services will be held 10:30 A.M., Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at St. Peters Lutheran Church, 502 2nd Street South, Rockwell