February 4, 1922 - December 22, 2022
In Loving Memory ~
William Donald Parmenter passed on the longest night of the year, December 22nd, 2022.
He is preceded in death by his parents Walter and Christina Parmenter and his wife of 73 years- Louise (née Spencer). He was the last of his 9 siblings.
He is survived by children Elaine (George), Eileen (Del, grandchildren Daniel and William), Don Jr. (Mary, grandchildren Tracey, Trisha, MariClare and Don Jr.) and Elizabeth "Betty" (Dominic, grandchildren Brian and Sandra) and many relatives.
Don was born in Red Oak, Iowa. In 1932, at age 10, his family loaded up their 1929 Model T flatbed truck with a trailer and settled near Salmon, Idaho.
After serving in WWII in the Philippines and later in Japan, he returned to the USA and in 1946, married Louise. Shortly after their marriage, they, and Louise's Dad, Herbert Spencer, immigrated to Terrace, B.C. where Don and Louise built a business, Skeena Auto Metal Shop, and raised a family.
In 1978 they retired to Rosswood and spent 30 enjoyable years homesteading their Rosswood acreage. Both Don and Louise were instrumental in establishing the Rosswood Community Association and in acquiring the land and resources to build the Rosswood Community Hall.
Dad was well known by locals for his immaculate 2 car woodworking shop where he milled wood and built tables, chairs, boats, paddles, and puzzles. Visitors were often given a dune buggy tour of the property and the small hydroelectric turbine that supplied heat and light to the house.
The Rosswood water tree (peeing tree), was another product of his creative ingenuity. Don donated his Rosswood Blacksmith shop forge and tools to the Terrace Heritage Society.
Don and Louise loved to explore and traveled by foot, snowshoe and ski, canoe, riverboat, truck, trailers and campers to visit with relatives and friends all over North America.
Don and Louise moved back to Terrace in 2009, where they spent their final years in Maple Estates.
The family would like to extend their thanks to Dr. Moolman, as well as the nurses and professional care providers that cared for Don in his last year.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Don's name, to Dr. R.E.M. Lee Hospital Foundation (4720 Haugland Ave, Terrace, B.C. V8G 2W7).
A Celebration of Life will be held in the spring when travel is easier.