Marjorie Parker

Marjorie Alice Parker, 90, of Columbus, Mont., died May 11, 2016.

Marjorie was born in Casper, Wyo., to Roland L and Alice (Claytor) Parker. When Marjie was 7 years old, her father passed away from appendicitis. In 1937, her mother married Streit Bidstrup. The family moved often due to economic conditions, so Marjie attended several schools before graduating from Natrona County High School in 1944. During her high school years Marjie would help gather on the roundup. She also competed in rodeo horse races and broke her pelvis in a fall and was transported to the hospital in a hearse.

She went on to attend college at the University of Wyoming in Laramie. She married Arthur L. Williams at Grass Creek, Wyo., on August 8, 1947. Through this union, five children were born. They made their home on the Diamond T Bar Ranch in Dry Creek. Marjie and Art were divorced in the early 1960s and she then married Ray Hale. They lived in Rapelje for 23 years managing the Copulos -01 Ranch.

After leaving the -01, Marjie moved to Columbus and divorced Ray in 1997. Marjie embraced all aspects of ranch life. She enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and attending their sporting events. Her passion was reading. She had a voracious appetite for books and was well known at the library. She loved animals and had many special pets. In later years, she would house-sit/critter-sit for many individuals in the Columbus/Absarokee area.

Marjie is survived by her children, Parker of Tok, Ala., Shannon (Bill) Stovall of Bridger, Tom (Val) of Bridger, and Alice Anne Wipplinger of North Platte, Neb.; daughter-in-law, Deb McDonnell (Williams) of Columbus; fourteen grandchildren; and fourteen great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her son, Mike; son-in-law, Tom Wipplinger; and special cousin Anne Miles.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Granite Peak Little League or Stillwater County Library in Columbus. A memorial service was held Monday, May 16, 2016, at the Evangelical Church in Columbus.