Darlene Parker

Darlene Parker
Las Vegas, NV

Blanche Darlene Openshaw Parker, passed away November 24, 2021 in Las Vegas.  She was born December 14, 1928, in Billings, Montana, the daughter of Alfred Openshaw and Blanche Loretta Wootton.  She had two older brothers, Glen and Carl Eugene, who adored her.  She grew up in Flushing, New York.  At a young age, she began her life-long passion for service working as a caregiver at a New York hospital.  Upon graduating from high school, she attended Brigham Young University, where she majored in English.  Juel Parker saw her walking through the BYU bookstore and said, “That’s the girl I’m going to marry.”  And so it was.

Darlene and Juel were married in the Salt Lake City Temple on October 5, 1949.  They have six children: Harold Brent Parker (wife, Julie Rae Nichols Parker), Karen Darlene Parker Thomas (husband, Dr. Steven C. Thomas), Lisa Dawn Parker (husband, Dr. Irwin B. Simon), Brian Juel Parker (wife, Lindee Howes Parker), Steven Bruce Parker (wife, Renee Lynn Grzesiuk Parker), and Julie Kay Parker Weisiger (husband Joseph W. Weisiger).  They have 22 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren.  Darlene and Juel raised their family in Las Vegas, Nevada.  Once their children began to leave the nest, they fostered five siblings (ages 2 through 8) who had been orphaned.  Prior to finalizing adoption, a childless LDS couple convinced them to allow them to adopt instead.  In Darlene and Juel ’s later years, they lived part-time in Joseph, Utah and part-time in Las Vegas.

Darlene and Juel faithfully served a mission in Perth, Australia, where they touched the hearts and lives of many they served.  Darlene loved people!  Everyone was always welcome in her home and her heart.  She loved ceramics, embroidery, baking, and spending time with family.  Darlene will be remembered as a selfless, altruistic, wife and mother, who always had a smile, even when times were tough.  She had a quiet strength.  She never complained and always had an eternal perspective.  In times of trouble, she always quoted the scripture, “this too shall pass.”

Darlene was a woman of extreme faith in Jesus Christ.  She was life-long member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and faithfully fulfilled every Church calling ever given her.  Her greatest desire was to have her family together, forever.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, December 4, 2021, at 2:00 p.m. at the LDS Church, located at 7800 Alta Drive, Las Vegas, Nevada.  A viewing will be held the same date and location from 12:30-1:30 p.m.  A graveside service will be held on Monday, December 6, 2021, at 2:00 p.m. at the Monroe City Cemetery.  Live streaming of the services and online guestbook can be found at www.maglebymortuary.com under Darlene’s obituary. Funeral Directors: Magleby Mortuary, Richfield, Salina and Manti.

DUE TO TRAVEL--- FLOWER ORDERS FOR THIS SERVICE WILL HAVE TO BE PLACED BY WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 1, BY 2 p.m.

in order to be at the services in Las Vegas -- otherwise they will be taken to the graveside service in Monroe