Mostly Clear, 66° F
(July 24, 1932 – June 1, 2016)
Ethel Parkin Akin was reunited with her husband Bob and other happy family members on Wednesday, June 1, 2016. She passed away at St. Vincent's Hospital in Billings, Montana.
Ethel truly loved her family by keeping an immaculate home, taking her children to church, making sure they were neatly dressed and expected them to do well in school, to respect their parents and to be good citizens. Ethel had a tasty meal on the table each evening and found great satisfaction when others enjoyed the food she prepared. Though she worked alongside Bob at Tri-County Telephone for many years, she was always at home when the children were there.
Ethel loved living and wanted to make things fun! She had a circle of lifelong friends with whom she played bridge and others with whom she bowled. She loved to entertain, travel, create family events with lots of food and games and throw big parties.
Ethel was a lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in many callings. Though poor health and pain were constant companions for much of her later life, she never complained even when she lost the ability to do nearly EVERYTHING.
Ethel loved music, motorcycle riding, shopping trips to Billings, and anything with sugar in it. We will miss her face 'lighting up' when she saw us, but are so grateful she is finally free of disability and pain!
Waiting to greet Ethel on the other side was her husband, Bob Akin; a grandson, Kory Lamont; parents Don and Ethel Parkin; half brothers LaFayette Don Parkin, John Owen Parkin and Henry William Parkin; and siblings LaRue C. P. Johnston, Wayne Carlos Parkin, Gladys Argean P. Johnston, Vivian Joy P. Alexander, and Harold Jay Parkin. Ethel is survived by her sister Donna Schmidt of Fort Hall, Idaho; children Patti (David) Scheveck, of Laurel, Montana; Joni (Charlie) Bender, of Billings, Montana; Juli (Dode) Harrison, of Basin, Wyoming; and Larry (Maurine) Akin, of Powell, Wyoming; 23 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, June 10, 2016 at the LDS Church between Greybull and Basin, 400 US Highway 20 So. Interment will be at Mount View Cemetery, Basin Wyoming. The family would like to thank all who cared for Ethel in the final years of her life, particularly the Bonnie Bluejacket Nursing Home in Basin, Wyoming, and the Billings Health and Rehabilitation Center, in Billings, Montana.
