Juanita Pauline Senften Parke

Juanita Pauline Senften Parke, 98, passed away on the June 20, 2018 at the home of her daughter in King Hill, Idaho.

Juanita was born on the family farm in Castleford, Idaho on May 31, 1920 to Henry and Ruth Senften. A short distance from her home was the one room Kinyon School which she attended for five years. Then her 6-12 grades were at the “new” Castleford School in town three miles away. She rode to school in a farm truck converted into a school bus. She grew up during those Depression years when times were really tough and remembered getting a comb for Christmas one year. She was a lifelong member of the Castleford Methodist Church which her grandfather, R.I. Smithwick helped start and her father Henry helped build.

After graduating from high school in 1938 as Valedictorian, Juanita attended the University of Idaho where she received a BA in Education. Her first teaching job was in Buhl, where she met her husband, John C. Parke. They were married at her home in Castleford in 1943. Her wedding dress was made from parachute silk.

After the War was over Juanita and John moved to a farm in King Hill, where they spent the rest of their lives farming, teaching school, raising their family and staying active in community affairs. She attended the King Hill Community Church for over 70 years. Juanita taught Art and English classes at the Glenns Ferry High School for 27 years.

After she retired and her husband John passed away in 1989 the Three Island Senior Center in Glenns Ferry became an important part of her life. She was also a life time member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary to honor her three brothers who served in World War II.

John and Juanita had three children, John Michael, Victoria Parke Smith (Dale) and Stephen Henry (Sherry). She is survived by those children, her grandchildren, Michael S. Parke, John K. Parke (Teri), Julia Parke Minor (Jessie), Sheila Smith Hailey(Clayton), H.D. Smith(Dina), Stephanie Parke (Steve Morrow), Andrew Parke (April) and Eric Parke (Misti), 21 great grandchildren and 13 great-great-grandchildren. Juanita was preceded in death by her husband, John, her parents Henry and Ruth, her sister Marie Senften Blick, and brothers, Leo Henry Senften, Harold Gilgian Senften (KIA, World War II), and Eugene Robert Senften, a granddaughter Kari Parke Bauer, daughter-in-law, Lynne Tusberg Parke, and a great granddaughter, Kristina Parke.

A memorial service will be held on July 7, 2018 at the King Hill Community Church at 11:00 AM. Memorial donations may be made to the Three Island Senior Center, PO Box 263, Glenns Ferry, Id 83623. Arrangements under the care of Rost Funeral Home, McMurtrey Chapel, in Mountain Home.