Theresa Parks

Theresa Parks, 85, of O'Neill, died Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025 at Osmond General Hospital in Osmond.

Visitation will be held from 9-10 a.m. on Saturday, March 8, 2025 at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in O'Neill with a 10 a.m. parish rosary.

Memorial services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 8, 2025 at the church in O'Neill.

Burial will be in the O'Neill Cemetery in O'Neill.

Memorials may be made to the O'Neill Irish Baseball in Theresa's name.

Theresa was born on Feb. 20, 1940 to Charles Boyle and Alice (Barrett) Boyle. She was the ninth one of 12 daughters. She grew up on a farm in Inman, where she rode horses, milked cows and played with her sisters and cousins.  

She loved to go hunting and fishing with her daddy and became very good at shooting blue rock when she got older. She was involved in 4-H and enjoyed Irish dancing. Her family had many dances at their home place where her Daddy played the violin and other cousins would play their musical instruments. She would go ice skating on the river by their home and said she had the best childhood. 

She graduated from St. Mary's High School in 1958.  

She married Harold "Punk" Parks on June 30th, 1962 and they had eight children. They later divorced in 2005. Some would say she gave birth to legends. I'll let you guess which ones they are.  

Theresa worked in the lunchroom at the public school in O'Neill. They later bought the roller-skating rink and she managed that for a few years before selling it and managing the concession stand at the baseball field.  

She loved watching her children and grandchildren participate in sports, with one of her very favorite memories being her son J.J. crushing two homeruns at the state tournament in Wayne to help win that game. She always had either a camera for photos or a video camera with her to capture amazing moments.

Theresa loved watching Disney cartoons with her favorites being Cinderella and Bambi. She loved Winnie the Pooh and Charlie Brown too. Theresa was very ornery and feisty! She loved pranking people and being a jokester. She was hilarious! We will miss her comments and loud laughter.

  Theresa had a very strong Catholic faith and loved praying the rosary. She moved in with her youngest daughter Lynn Wattier in April 2024 so Lynn could care for her full-time and made sure to watch mass and say prayers throughout the day.

Theresa is survived by her eight children Bernadette (Mike) Menish of Norfolk, Christine (Marvin) Miksch of Stuart, Phil (Audra) Parks of O'Neill, Gerald (Mary) Parks of Olathe, KS, J.J. (Tammie) Parks of Niobrara, Lynn (Eric) Wattier of Osmond and Ryan (Amber) Parks and Aron (Liz) Parks, all of O'Neill; 31 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; four sisters Mary Ellen Klinetobe of O'Neill, Elaine Ramold and Helen (Denny) Cunningham, all of Norfolk and Frances (Lyle) Gillogly of Salinas, CA; and two brothers-in-law Ken Grosse of Fremont and Clark Gaughenbaugh of O'Neill.

She was preceded in death by her parents; ex-husband Harold “Punk” Parks; seven sisters Sr. Regina Boyle, Dolores Schneider, Bridget Ramold, Rosalie Crawford, Charline Gaughenbaugh, Rita Grosse and Cecilia Boyle; and five brothers-in-law Don Schneider, Joe Ramold, George Ramold, Arnold Crawford and Lonnie Klinetobe.