A Memorial Mass for Theresa Parks, age 85, of O'Neill, Nebraska will be 10:30 am Saturday, March 8, 2025 at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in O'Neill.  Inurnment will be in the O'Neill Cemetery.  Visitation will be on Saturday from 9-10 am at the church with a Parish Rosary at 10:00 am. Theresa passed away Wednesday, February 26, 2025 at Osmond General Hospital in Osmond, Nebraska.  In Lieu of flowers memorials may be given to O'Neill Irish Baseball.  Arrangements are entrusted to Biglin's Mortuary in O'Neill.

Theresa Boyle Parks was born on February 20, 1940 to Charles Boyle and Alice (Barrett) Boyle.  She was the 9th one of 12 daughters.  She grew up on a farm in Inman, Nebraska where she rode horses, milked cows, and played with her sisters and cousins.  She loved to go hunting and fishing with her Daddy, and became very good at shooting blue rock when she got older.  She was involved in 4-H and enjoyed Irish dancing.  Her family had many dances at their home place where her Daddy played the violin and other cousins would play their musical instruments.  She would go ice skating on the river by their home and said she had the best childhood.

She graduated from St. Mary's High School in 1958.  She married Harold "Punk" Parks on June 30th, 1962 and they had 8 children.  They later divorced in 2005.  Some would say she gave birth to legends.  I'll let you guess which ones they are.  Theresa worked in the lunchroom at the public school in O'Neill.  They later bought the roller-skating rink and she managed that for a few years before selling it and managing the concession stand at the baseball field.  She loved watching her children and grandchildren participate in sports, with one of her very favorite memories being her son J.J. crushing two homeruns at the state tournament in Wayne, Ne to help win that game.  She always had either a camera for photos or a video camera with her to capture amazing moments.

Theresa loved watching Disney cartoons with her favorites being Cinderella and Bambi.  She loved Winnie the Pooh and Charlie Brown too. Theresa was very ornery and feisty!  She loved pranking people and being a jokester.  She was hilarious!  We will miss her comments and loud laughter.

Theresa had a very strong Catholic faith and loved praying the rosary.  She moved in with her youngest daughter, Lynn Wattier, in April 2024 so Lynn could care for her full time, and made sure to watch mass and say prayers throughout the day.

Theresa is survived by her eight children, Bernadette Menish and husband, Mike of Norfolk, Christine Miksch and husband, Marvin of Stuart, Phil Parks and wife, Audra of O'Neill, Gerald Parks and wife, Mary of Olathe, Kansas, J.J. Parks and wife, Tammie of Niobrara, Lynn Wattier and husband, Eric of Osmond, Ryan Parks and wife, Amber of O'Neill, Aron Parks and wife, Liz of O'Neill; 31 grandchildren; 19 great grandchildren; four sisters, Mary Ellen Klinetobe of O'Neill, Elaine Ramold of Norfolk, Helen Cunningham and husband, Denny of Norfolk, Frances Gillogly and husband, Lyle of Salinas, CA; brothers-in-law, Ken Grosse of Fremont and Clark Gaughenbaugh of O'Neill.

She is preceded in death by her parents, ex-husband, Harold "Punk" Parks; seven sisters, Sr. Regina Boyle, Dolores Schneider, Bridget Ramold, Rosalie Crawford, Charline Gaughenbaugh, Rita Grosse, and Cecilia Boyle; brothers-in-law, Don Schneider, Joe Ramold, George Ramold, Arnold Crawford, and Lonnie Klinetobe.