The Linda Parkinson Family

(RS President)

455 South Main Street

It is hard to put in a few short paragraphs my life of 74 years. I feel like I’m writing a life sketch for my obituary. Here goes: I was born in a Catholic Hospital in Boise, Idaho. I’m the first of five children (2 boys and 3 girls). My dad operated a dairy farm in Meridian, Idaho. Not long after I was born, we moved back to Provo, Utah, where I grew up. In 1963, when I was a

sophomore in high school, my brother, who was 14, was killed along with 11 other youth and adult leaders in a scouting accident in Hole-in-the-Rock just outside of Escalante, UT. I graduated from Provo High School in 1965 and attended BYU studying Business Education. I met my husband at BYU, and we were married in 1968. He finished his degree at BYU while I worked full

time.

Our family has lived in several places in Orem and finally settled in northeast Orem where our children grew up and went to school. Our four children are grown and have families of their own. They live fairly close and we get together as often as we can. We started a tradition when our first daughter was born. All of our children and all of our grandchildren (and all of our dogs) have names that begin with the letter “T.” My great-grandchildren broke the tradition. We have 4 children, 11 grandchildren, and 3 great-grandchildren and another great-grand due in April.

Being a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother brings wonderful blessings and experiences. I am so proud of all of my posterity and their accomplishments. I try to support them in all of their activities which means a lot of baseball, tennis, soccer, gymnastics, piano recitals, graduations, baptisms, blessings, ordinations, etc. We enjoy being together as a family and are very competitive. We love the outdoors, horseback riding, hiking, fishing, four-wheeling, snowboarding and skiing, and especially boating. Family trips take us to Lake Mead, Bear Lake, and Lake Powell almost every year. All the kids are expert skiers and surfers. They keep trying to get me on a surfboard but haven’t succeeded yet! In addition to spending time with family and doing all the above, I love to read, walk, bowl, cook, work in the yard, and go on girl trips.

Right after graduating from high school, I started working at the BYU Alumni Association and worked part time as a student and then full time as the Office Manager until my 2nd child was born. I took a few years off to raise my children, but after they were mostly raised and I was divorced, I went back to work. I retired in June of 2019 after 29 years working in Alpine School District.

My civic and volunteer efforts were focused on serving where my children were, so I started volunteering at the school. Then I couldn’t say “no,” so I got involved in the PTA and before I knew it, I was elected President of the Utah PTA and served from 1995-97 and then served for a few years on the National PTA Board. It was a wonderful experience and very rewarding working with others to make things better for the children of the state of Utah and the Nation. I traveled to Salt Lake City most every day and traveled all over the United States attending meetings. I had lots of opportunities to share the gospel with people on planes and in meetings. As soon as they knew I was from Utah, the first question was, “Are you a Mormon?”

My callings in the Church have been challenging, stretching and rewarding. I never feel equal to the task but have been helped and supported by good people who are willing to help me learn and grow. Each of my callings were the best calling I had at the time. I loved being a primary teacher, a cub scout leader, Primary President, 11-year-old scout leader, YW President, YW camp director, Stake Public Relations Director, Relief Society counselor and now Relief Society President.

I have been in the Stonewood 4th Ward for a little over 15 years. It was a difficult move since I had lived in my previous ward for over 25 years and had great friends and made many memories there. I love the people of the 4th ward and love getting acquainted with each of you. It has been challenging to connect, but I’m hoping for a better year in 2021.

We have been blessed as a family through the years, and I have been blessed as person. We have had our share of disappointments, trials, sadness and setbacks, but have learned to press forward with faith trusting in the Lord’s promise that He won’t give us more than we can handle and that things will work out.