Lynda Jane Parson, 65, of Valentine, passed away on Wednesday, December 31, 2014 from a long battle with cancer. Visitation will be at Sandoz Chapel of the Pines, Sunday,at 5 pm. Funeral services will be Monday, January 5, at 10 am at the Valentine United Methodist Church. Interment will be at the Mount Hope Cemetery in Valentine. Memorials in lieu of flowers to the Cancer Treatment Centers of America Cancer Fighters, or to Heifer International, PO Box 8058, Little Rock, AR 72203-8058.
Lynda was born on July 7, 1949 to Wendell and Betty (Metzger) Parson in Fremont, NE. She graduated from Fremont Senior High School in 1967 where she was active in Drama, band, and was a foreign exchange student to the Netherlands in 1966. Lynda was active in 4-H all of her childhood in aspects ranging from livestock to sewing.
Lynda graduated from University of Nebraska Lincoln in 1972 with a dual major in Home Economics and Education. She received her masters degree in Special Education from Wayne State College in 1986. In 2007, Lynda graduated from the St. Paul School of Theology in Kansas City with a masters in divinity, and in 2011 was ordained in the United Methodist Church.
Lynda worked as an County Extension Agent/Educator in Cass, Rock, Brown, Keya Paha, and Cherry & Lincoln counties. She is most remembered for her work with 4-H, creating growth programs for youth, and writing grants for county programs. She taught Home Economics at Keya Paha High School and substitute taught in Lincoln Public Schools. She was pastor in churches in Malcolm, Mullen/Tryon, Bushnell, & Kimball. Lynda's ministry reached beyond the church. She actively served in prison ministries and as a hospital chaplain for the Cheyenne Regional Medical Center.
Lynda's passions were quilting, scrapbooking, gardening, spending time in nature, and family history and traditions.
She is survived by daughter Erin (Radant) Miller of Valentine; son, Ryan (Melanie) Radant of Winner, SD; mother Betty Parson of Fremont; brother Steve (Carol) Parson of Valley; sisters Terri (Terry) Majewski of Heber Springs, Arkansas, and Jean (Doug) Wilcox of Omaha; and 5 grandchildren Cinch, Tygh, and Tierney Miller and Shauna and Logan Radant. She was preceded in death by her father Wendell Parson.