Janice S. Parry
Janice ‘Jan’ Parry, age 71, of Brandon, passed away Monday, March 3, 2025, at the Bethany Home, Brandon, South Dakota. Her memorial service will be held at 3:00 PM, Friday, March 14, 2025 at the Bethany Meadows Chapel of Brandon. Please use the Bethany Meadows entrance door. Inurnment will be in the Hills of Rest Cemetery.
Memorials may be directed to the Sioux Falls Humane Society.
Jan (Janice) Sue Parry, daughter of Virgil and Lucille E. (Wilson) Parry was born on March 19, 1953, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, along with her twin sister, Joyce. Jan and her family lived in Salem, South Dakota until 1958, and then moved to a home near Sioux Falls (Ellis).
Jan and Joyce were born with cerebral palsy. They attended the Crippled Children’s School in Sioux Falls. In 1961, Jan and Joyce were the poster twins for the March of Dimes. Jan continued her education and graduated from Washington High School in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, class of 1971.
On August 1, 1972, Jan started work at Northwestern Bell Telephone Company in Sioux Falls. Jan worked as a Directory Assistance Operator (information 411) for 16 years. She also worked at the U.S. Census Bureau and Hughes Company. Jan bought a blue Dodge Dart Swinger and learned how to drive. Jan became independent, despite her struggles dealing with cerebral palsy. Jan never let it get her down.
Growing up Jan and Joyce loved to go to concerts and movies together (especially movies about dogs). They participated in Ski for Life in the Black Hills for individuals with disability. Jan enjoyed writing poetry, and even took a college course on writing. She loved spas, saunas, massages, politics on TV, and working out at the gym when she was able. Jan loved to shop and look for good deals.
Jan formed many friendships and cherished her time with new and old friends. Jan loved to travel with friends. There were short trips to the Black Hills, two trips to a fishing resort in Canada, trips to Florida, Las Vegas and visits to friends living in Arizona. Her favorite place to visit was Hawaii. She went with her friend, Bev, to Hawaii in 1975. She loved Hawaii for the weather, culture, and new friends she met, and said, “Hawaii was heaven on earth”. Jan had the courage to go back to Hawaii by herself 15 times. She met Kay, Doc and Malea (local Hawaiians) and had a lifetime friendship.
Jan had a love for dogs. Her dog, Kelly, a German shepherd, was her loving childhood companion and is forever in her heart. She made a new furry friend at Bethany named Belle. Jan’s face lit up when she talked about Belle’s visits. Although she could not have a dog in the home, she surrounded herself with pictures of dogs and stuffed animal dogs and teddy bears.
Jan was a kind and caring person. She was caregiver to her mother and sister until their passing. She gave thoughtful gifts to friends and family for birthdays, holidays, or just because she cared. These kind gestures filled her life with gratitude and joy.
Jan is survived by her brother, Dennis (Bonnie) Parry, nephews Chad and Curt (Rockford, Illinois), and her many life-long friends whose lives she touched.
Jan was proceeded in death by her parents, Virgil and Lucille Parry, twin sister, Joyce Parry, and brother, David Gunderson.