Dean Parks

Celebration of Life for Dean Parks, 94, of Ekalaka, will be at 1:00 pm, Tuesday, June 30, 2026 at Stevenson Funeral Home, Ekalaka. Burial will follow at Beaverlodge Cemetery.

Visitation will take place one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.

Dean passed away June 20, 2026 at Dahl Memorial Healthcare in Ekalaka.

Roland "Dean" Parks was born June 5,1932 to Jess and Marie Parks in Ekalaka Mt. Joining siblings Helen, Ione and Vernon. Dean attended Carter County High School and graduated in 1950. He began his career at First National Bank as a teller in August of 1950. He married Agnes Schubach and together they had two children. Charles in 1955 and Roberta in 1957. This marriage was later dissolved.

Dean and Gloria were married November 18, 1960. He attended Wisconsin School of Banking for 3 summers, graduating in 1964. Tiffany and Amanda joined the family in 1970.

Dean not only excelled in his banking career but he was also involved in his community as the Head of the Heart Association of Montana for Carter County, Ekalaka Volunteer Fire Department, Dahl Memorial Hospital Board, Carter County Public Administrator, he owned and operated the Ekalaka Insurance Agency, and he was also involved in the Ekalaka Rifle Club.

Dean ranched his whole life and he hauled sand and gravel as a side business. He also worked alongside his father Jess in the logging business. In his early years he was a deacon at the First Baptist Church and assisted in the logging and building the church.

In 1986 Dean purchased the Harkins Ranch from his sister Helen along the Chalk Buttes. He and his wife raised Arabian horses under "Dry Moon Arabians" as well as Gelbvieh Cattle at the Parks Ranch with his son Charles.

Dean retired as president from The First National Bank in December of 1997. Continuing his interest in the bank served on the Board of Directors until it sold to Summit National Bank.

For many years Dean and his family vacationed at their cabin in Canada on Tobin Lake where he enjoyed many hours out on the boat fishing. Dean and his wife also enjoyed endurance rides with his Arabian horses.

Dean and Gloria retired from the ranch in 2012 and moved back to his parents' original homestead, south of Ekalaka.

Dean passed away peacefully at the Dahl Memorial Nursing Home.

He is preceded in death by his parents; sister, Helen; brother Vernon; son in law, Spencer Huether; granddaughter, Deanna.

He is survived by his wife of 65 yrs Gloria; son, Charles (Sandy); daughters, Roberta Huether, Tiffany Hartl, Amanda Walcer; his sister, Ione Anderson (Dave) and six grandchildren; Tawnee, Amber, Kathrine, AJ, Nicole, and Tyler; many nieces and nephews.

Quotes by Dean "Quality is long remembered after price is forgotten" and to his daughter Roberta "Buy more forks!"

In lieu of flowers there will be a Memorial in Dean's name at Dahl Memorial Healthcare Nursing Program. Designated for nursing education.