Joan L. Parrish

Joan L. Parrish age 62 of Deadwood, died Saturday February 19, 2011 at her home surrounded by her family. The funeral service will be held at 11am Thursday February 24th, 2011 at the First Wesleyan Church in Sturgis SD with Rev. Brian Carpenter officiating.  Visitation will be held 5 to 7pm Wednesday at the Foothills Community Church in Sturgis, followed by a 7pm public prayer service at the church.  Interment will take place in Black Hills National Cemetery, near Sturgis on Thursday at 12:30pm. Funeral arrangements are with Funeral Home of the Northern Hills in Belle Fourche. Joan Leslie Hillis was born June 12, 1948 in Langdon, North Dakota.  She was the daughter of John and Margaret (Campbell) Hillis.  Joan grew up and attended school in Cavalier, North Dakota.  She received her teaching degree at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, where she majored in math.  Upon receiving her degree, she moved to Gillette Wyoming where she taught school.  On June 9, 1972 Joan was married to Stanley Parrish in Gillette Wyoming.  To this union, four children were born: Lezlie, Dan, Jim, and Gail.  In 1975, Stan and Joan moved to Deadwood SD, where they have lived since.  Joan worked as a substitute teacher and for several years she worked for Dr. Guilbert at Deadwood Eye Care, which she enjoyed very much.  Joan loved music and she taught piano for many years.  She also enjoyed quilting.  She was a member of Foothills Community Church. Joan will be remembered for her strong faith and her faithfulness to her Savior.  She loved the Word of God, and knew it well.  Joan loved her friends very much.  She was a loving mother and grandmother, and a devoted wife of almost 40 years.  She will be greatly missed by her family and friends. Joan is survived by her husband Stanley, of Deadwood; daughters, Lezlie (Doug) Derber of Lafayette, CO, Gail Parrish of Deadwood; sons, Daniel (Lisa) Parrish of Pella, Iowa, James (Kristin) Parrish of Ogallala, Nebraska; 4 grandchildren, Kathleen, Nathan, Anne, and Sean; her mother, Margaret Hillis of Grand Forks ND; 2 sisters, Kathy (Herb) Debban of Lenoir City, TN, Susan (Bart) Thompson of Flagstaff AZ; and her brother John (Lonna) Hillis of Cavalier, ND. She was preceded in death by her father.May God Bless the Memory of Joan Leslie Parrish. DATE OF BIRTH June 12, 1948 Langdon, North Dakota DATE OF DEATH February 19, 2011 Deadwood, South Dakota FUNERAL SERVICE 11:00 A.M. – Thursday – February 24th, 2011 First Wesleyan Church Sturgis, South Dakota OFFICIANT Rev. Brian Carpenter SPECIAL MUSIC Pianist – Joan Iverson Soloist – Debra Leverington “Fly to Jesus” Hymn #102 – “Day By Day” Hymn #495 – “It is Well” Hymn #256 – “The Old Rugged Cross”EULOGYRochelle Silva CASKETBEARERS Doug Derber                                                                  John Hillis Dr. Michael Guilbert                                                Dan Parrish Lewis Hettinga                                                            Jim Parrish INTERMENT Black Hills National Cemetery Sturgis, South Dakota