Carol Ann Park

Carol Park, 80, of Dell Rapids passed away on Tuesday, June 19, 2018 at the Avera Heart Hospital in Sioux Falls. Her Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 23, 2018 in St. Mary Catholic Church. Visitation on Friday, June 22, 2018 will begin at 4:00 p.m. in St. Mary Catholic Church. The family will be present from 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. with a Christian Wake beginning at 7:00 p.m. followed by a rosary.

Carol Ann Park was born to Anne Mable Martin (Van Vooren) and John W. Martin at Hawarden, Iowa on March 22, 1938.  In 1944 the family moved to Dell Rapids where Carol has lived since.  On September 6, 1952, Carol married Floyd (Tim) Park.  To them were born five children; Deb Allen (Richard), Floyd (JoAnn), Mike (Jeannine), Shon (deceased) and Leah Kistler (Stacey Jaacks).  Carol spent several years at home caring for the family before working as a cook for Saint Mary’s schools.  In 1976, Carol and Tim bought the Mobile gas station in Dell Rapids and converted it into T and C’s; one of the first convenience stores in the country.  Carol and Tim were natural business owners who loved people and loved to serve them.  A few years after opening T and C’s, Carol and Tim opened T and C’s Other Place on the other side of Dell Rapids.  Carol managed both businesses while Tim worked as a rural mail carrier.  In 2000, Carol and Tim sold the businesses to their son Mike who continues to operate them today.

Carol enjoyed spending time with family and friends.  She especially enjoyed having the family at home for holidays.  She was an avid reader, reading many books each year.  She enjoyed attending the school activities of her grand and great grand children and going to plays and concerts with her friends.  She loved attending the birthday and card clubs that she participated in for many years, and playing Mahjong with her friends.  Carol loved to watch the birds and grow flowers in her garden and she really enjoyed spoiling her dog Sandy.  She was, at times, a great practical joker; especially on April 1 of each year, at which time, her kids were always on their guard.  She looked forward to helping Mike at the station with the books on Fridays where she could connect with the customers again.  She also loved to cook for family and friends and enjoyed sharing homemade dishes with T and C’s customers on a routine basis.  Carol was a long time member of Saint Mary Catholic Church where she volunteered often to help where she could.  Carol was fun to be around and loved to be active; it was a joke that she was busier in retirement than when she worked.  

She will be greatly missed by her family.  But we find great joy and peace in knowing she is with the Lord.  She is survived by Deb, Mike, Floyd and Leah; a sister-in-law, Mary Lou Brockberg of Pipestone MN; her nine grandchildren; Trevor, Holly, Ryan, Krista, Riley, Michaella, Gavin, Carson and Payton; ten great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

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