Ramona Ann Parks

Ramona Ann (Espinoza) Brisbois Parks was born on April 17, 1939, in Fort Dodge, Iowa to Florence Leiss Espinoza. She graduated from Albert Lee High School in Minnesota. After high school, she attended the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and studied early childhood education. 

She married Raymond “Shorty” Parks, Sr. in 1968 in Omaha, Nebraska. They lived in Minden, Beebeetown and Neola, Iowa. She enjoyed being a mother and homemaker while her children were young. She was an avid reader, puzzler and crocheter. She also enjoyed volunteering at Vacation Bible School and making cookies for her children's school activities. She enjoyed friendships made at Card Club and bowling league in Minden. Ramona started working at Happy Chef in Council Bluffs, Iowa and enjoyed working there for many years. 

In 1995, Ramona and Ray moved to Elk Horn, Iowa where they purchased acreage just south of town. She worked at Elk Horn Nursing Home in Elk Horn and the Salvation Army in Atlantic. Ramona and Ray enjoyed several long road trips and vacations and their long conversations in the car about life and their dreams. As well as their flower gardens and being one in nature. She retired in 2006. In 2013, she moved to Ft. Dodge, Iowa and was very active in making prayer shawls for St. Olaf Lutheran Church and tending to her flower garden outside her door. As her health changed, she began hemo dialysis and faithfully attended this treatment three times a week for the past ten years. She made many friends that also traveled the dialysis journey. In 2020, she moved in with her daughter Susan and her family, Geoffrey and Raellen in Rosemount, Minnesota. She enjoyed going to the beach and having her feet in the sand, visiting with neighbors and the family cats, Mango and Sky. She enjoyed attending her granddaughter Raellen's many activities. 

Ramona passed away at Fairview-Southdale Hospital in Edina, Minnesota having attained the age of 85 years, nine months, and 12 days. Ramona deeply valued the importance of organ donation and was honored to give to others in her final act of kindness. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Raymond “Shorty” Parks, Jr., brother, Sonny and sister, Gloria. 

She is survived by her children: David "Bud" (Sheryl) Brisbois, Joe (Becky) Brisbois, James (Kathy) Brisbois, Julia (Tim) Brehmer, Paul (Wendy) Brisbois, Susan (Geoffrey) Francis, Sandy (Dave) Olthoff and RJ (Katy) Parks; her most special sister, Luci and other sisters: Virgina, Sela and Neva; many loved grandchildren; great grandchildren; and nieces and nephews. 

Visitation with Family Greeting Friends will be held from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, at the Ohde Funeral Home in Kimballton. A private graveside service will be held in the Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery in Kimballton. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Ramona’s name to the National Kidney Foundation.