MAY 19, 1930 – Nov 3, 2023
Alton Parker passed on November 3, 2023, at the Three Hills Health Care Center at the age of 93. Alton was born May 19, 1930, in Swalwell, Alberta to Chesley (Ches) and Martha (Matty) Parker and was raised on the farm south of Three Hills. He attended school at Three Hills Rural School until grade 9 and then went to work for several years in the grocery store until his dad needed him on the farm. This started his lifelong farming career which saw the end of the draft horse era and the start of mechanized farming. Alton was always interested in purebred livestock and purchased his first purebred Hereford heifers in 1962 which were the start of his purebred herd. The purebred cattle business opened up many opportunities to meet people from all over the world and Alton and Eleanor were able to tour England and Scotland on two occasions and take in the Royal shows there. Over the years, cattle from the Parker herd were sold to Scotland, South Africa, Australia, Russia and the United States as well as across Canada. The Parker cattle were sold at the Calgary Bull Sale and the Alberta Hereford Test Center for many years with one bull calf topping the test center for gain and selling for a record price. Alton was also active in the Hereford association and served as president one year. Alton met his wife Eleanor in 1952 when Eleanor started teaching school at the Three Hills Rural School and they were married in 1953. Together, they had three sons, Glen, Kenny, and John. Alton and Eleanor built a small three-room house on the opposite corner of his dad’s homestead along the Three Hills Creek, and this is where he lived his life out. Over the years, Alton’s mother and father moved into their house and Alton and Eleanor built another on the same site where they raised their family and expanded the corrals and buildings. Alton stopped actively farming in 2002 as health issues started to add up. He always enjoyed driving around the neighborhood to see what was happening during the seasons of the year and always wanted to know what the neighbors were doing, how the crops were yielding and how the livestock was doing. Once he was unable to drive himself, he still looked forward to being taken on tours. One tour that he especially liked was to go west of Sundre to see the wild horse herds and to watch the mares and foals. Alton was faced with several health challenges in the later years and had been in long term care for the past four years as his health and mobility declined. He spent the last year at Westview Care Center and appreciated the care and attention he received from the staff there. He passed quickly and peacefully at the end. He is survived by his wife Eleanor and would have celebrated their 70th anniversary on Nov 14. He is also survived by sons Glen (Kathy), Kenneth, and John as well as 3 grandchildren, Russell, Beverley and Lindsay, and 4 great-grandchildren, along with many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his father Ches and mother Mattie, father-in-law Bob, mother-in-law Dorothy, sister Joyce, brothers-in-law Norman, Keith, and Lloyd, and sisters-in-law Dorothy (Babe), Fern and Ruth. Services were held Friday, November 10th at the United Church in Three Hills. Alton was laid to rest at the Mt. Davis Cemetery. To send condolences to the family, please visit www.sunsetltd.ca
