GERALD V. PARKER Seeley Lake - Gerald "Jerry" Parker, passed away in the arms of his family on Jan. 30, 2011, at his home in Seeley Lake after a brief battle with lung cancer. Jerry was born on Feb. 17, 1938 in Pierre, SD, to Wayne L. and Antoinette Ondricek Parker. After graduation from high school in 1956, being a lover of the outdoors, he chose to study Forestry at the University of MT in Missoula. While there, he met one of the student nurses from St. Pat's, Diane Klemenhagen, and they were married on July 16, 1960. They celebrated their 50th anniversary last summer. While attending the University, he spent one summer working as a fire lookout in the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness. Dad had many stories to tell of this experience plus many other creative tales told around family campfires. He graduated from UM in 1961 and started his professional career with the Burlington Northern R.R. in their timber and land department in Seeley Lake. A daughter, Kelly Ann was born during this time. A transfer with B.N took the family to Seattle where son Michael was born. Dad did not like the big city life and it was back to MT in 1965 to work for the L.A. Hamilton Lumber Co. (now the site of Southgate Mall). Another daughter, Tricia, was added to the family during these years. When Hamilton Lumber Co. closed, he then worked for Idaho Pole Co. until he was able to come back to Seeley Lake in 1979 to work as timber manager for Pyramid Lumber Co. Looking for timber in the Philipsburg area, he found and purchased a section of land in 1985, along with his partner, Leonard Hamilton, that they subdivided. He sold the last 20 acre parcel 2 days before his death, finalizing a long and enduring project. A man of integrity and honor, his word and a handshake was all that was needed. Retired from Pyramid Mountain Lumber in 1996, he enjoyed fishing, hunting, working in the yard, and his trips to the dump and Trixies to visit his friends. He was preceded in death by his daughter Kelly Ann, his mother Antoinette Parker Edinger, and his father Wayne. He is survived by his wife Diane, son Michael of Philipsburg, daughter Tricia (Tom) Thien of Boise, ID, Grandchildren Levi and Ryan Parker and Sydney, Zack, Madison, and Carson Thien.