Theodora Parker

Theodora Carolyn (Trandahl) Parker was born on February 26, 1930, in Echo, Minnesota, to Irvin and Irma (Rikke) Trandahl and passed away on August 3, 2017, in Cabool, Missouri. She was 87 years, 5 months, and 8 days of age.

Theodora lived in Minnesota until the age of 11 when she moved to California with her parents and siblings in 1942. She later lost her father to pneumonia in 1943. Theodora graduated from John Swett High School in Crocket, California in 1947.

She met and married Gladden Parker in 1948 in Reno, Nevada. They moved to Mountain Grove, Missouri, in 1976 where they began a beef and dairy farm. You would often times find Theodora working right alongside her husband, milking cows and putting up hay. Her hobbies included working in her flower gardens and traveling. She was an active lady who was always on the go. Theodora was an amazing cook. Her kids and grandkids will tell you that she made the best homemade bread you could find. Every Christmas Eve you would also find a huge homemade pot of Minestrone soup on the stove.

Theodora was active in the Dairy Women’s League, Wright County Republican Women, T.A.R.G.E.T., as well as all of her children’s school activities. In 2017 Theodora received a Certificate of Recognition from The Missouri House of Representatives which was presented to her by Representative Hannah Kelly.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Gladden Parker, of forty-eight years, two sons, Guy Parker and Steven Parker, her daughter - in law, Sue Parker, her grandson, Travis Parker, and her brother-in law, Bob Henry.

Theodora is survived by two sisters, Ilene Henry of Galt, California, and Jean Chebotarewich and her husband, Vic, of Modesto, California, one brother, Orlin Trandahl and his wife, Dee, of Squim, Washington, two sons, Dan Parker of Mountain Grove, Missouri, and David Parker and his wife, Terri, of Sebastopol, California, one daughter, Carol Barnes and her husband, Bret, of Mountain Grove, Missouri, eight grandkids, Jeff Parker of Eugene, Oregon, Michael Parker of Scottsdale, Arizona, Chalmer Parker and his wife, Staci, of Blue Springs, Missouri, Bo Parker and his wife, Amanda, of Mountain Grove, Missouri, Duane Parker and his wife, Misti, of Rogersville, Missouri, Bobby Barnes and his wife, Meagan, of Lebanon, Missouri, Dustin Parker and his wife, Laura, of Santa Rosa, California, and Bridget Stinson and her husband, Brian, of Mountain Grove, Missouri, twenty-three great-grandkids, three great-great-grandkids and two more great-great-grandkids on the way.

Theodora will be greatly missed by her family and friends.