---

Alma Park, 94, formerly of Crete, Nebraska, died peacefully Saturday, December 3, at Margaret S. Parmly Residence in Chisago City, Minnesota. Alma was born July 14, 1922 in Crete, Nebraska to Ray and Lillie (Nohavec) Beggs.  A graduate of Crete High School, she enjoyed singing, music of all kinds, and dancing in performances at the Sokol Hall, where she met her husband Glenn Park.  They were married July 14, 1940 and were together for 57 years.  She and Glenn lived in Long Beach, California, while he served in the Coast Guard, but made Crete their permanent home.  He owned the Sinclair station before pursuing other work with Ahlschwede Ford and Wanek’s.

Alma was a housewife until 1964 when she went to work for JC Penny to support college expenses for their four children, Dennis, Sandy, Judy and Debbie.  She also worked many years at Dorsey’s Café, later Heidi and Harold’s and was thrilled when the actor Robert Taylor came in for coffee while visiting Doane College.  She and Maggie Severin were the “counter girls” and many ate there regularly to enjoy their kindness, cheery dispositions and great smiles!

Alma enjoyed fishing, gardening, entertaining and vacationing each year in Canada with her husband Glenn and family.  She was active in the Grace United Methodist Church Auxiliary, Eastern Star, and devoted to her mother Lillie and sister Velma, and she enjoyed spending time in Columbus, Nebraska, as well as traveling.  Alma loved to read, crochet, write poetry and letters and always had a kind word for everyone.  
She lived in Ohio with Judy after Glenn passed in 1997, and then moved to Minnesota to be near her daughter Sandy in 2003.  She was very proud of her family, her grandchildren and their talents, especially when they gathered and sang together.

She wrote in a class reunion booklet that “The Lord has been good to me . . . I’m in good health and still have a sense of humor. It always puzzles me when I look in the mirror . . . How can I look old when I feel so young!”

She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister and friend who loved to feed them all, celebrating her Czech heritage, by baking kolaches, cooking dumplings and other goodies to eat.
She is survived by Daughters, Sandra Williams (Rob Robertson), Judith Bohaty (Jerry), and Debra Roe; Son, Dennis Park (Nita Hinds-Park); grandchildren, Jared Nelson (Cindi), Leslie Frye (Troy), Kay Williams (Jim Rothrock), Kari Williams (Dave Mills), Dan Williams, Jess Roe (Dana Ford), Kara Johnson (Michael) and Ben Bohaty; 14 great grandchildren; brother Don Beggs (Marianne); brother- in- law, Bruce Gilmore and many nieces and nephews.

Alma was preceded in death by Ray and Lillie Beggs, Glenn Park, Velma Gilmore and granddaughter, Jamie Renee Roe.

The family would like to express heartfelt thanks to special caregivers Patti Mattson and Buffy LaBeau and staff at Margaret S. Parmly Residence and Parmly Lakeview Apts for their loving care. Memorials will be to the Activities Fund, payable to Parmly Lakeview Apts. Tenant Council at 10600 282nd St., Chisago City, MN 55013, for events and special needs.  She lived there happily for 13 years.

A graveside service and interment in the family plot will be after the holidays at the Crete Riverside Cemetery in Crete, Nebraska. Arrangements entrusted to Kuncl Funeral Home, Crete, Nebraska with local care provided by Grandstrand Funeral Home, Lindstrom. Condolences may be left online at kunclfh.com.

---