Obituary

“Parilee Nelson Tidenberg, 73, of Poteau, Oklahoma passed away March 13, 2009, at her home. She was born September 5, 1935 in Brownfield, Texas. She was a member of the Southside Baptist Church in Poteau.
She was preceded in death by her husband, James Garland Tidenberg of Poteau, her parents, Polly and Homer Nelson of Brownfield, Texas, and a brother, Homer Irwin Nelson of Waco, Texas.
Survivors include her daughter, Pal (Mark) Jordan, of Chesterfield, VA (where Mark is Pastor of Ironbridge Baptist Church); her son, Jim (Tina) Tidenberg of Clovis, NM; her son, Tim (Annie) Tidenberg of Nairobi, Kenya; her daughter Trisa (Joe) Dubois of Poteau; her grandchildren Amy (Wes) Rickards; Johnathon (Bettina) Tidenberg, Josh (Sammy Jo) Tidenberg; Laura Tidenberg; James Jordan; Jamie Tidenberg; Jared Tidenberg; John Mark Jordan; Hannah Tidenberg; Julia Dubois; and Joanna Dubois. She celebrated the birth of Jacob Dubois on Wednesday, March 11, 2009. She also is survived by two great-grandchildren; a brother, Walter Graves (Effie) Nelson; and a sister, Sue (Jim) Sprague; numerous other loved ones and many friends.
Pallbearers are Johnathon Tidenberg, Josh Tidenberg, James Jordan, Jared Tidenberg, Ed Abernathy, Dennis Carter, Toby Tilley, and Dennis Yochum.
Services will be held at 2 pm Tuesday, March 17, 2009 at the Southside Baptist Church of Poteau with Rev. Tim Tidenberg and Dr. Mark Jordan officiating assisted by Pastor Monty Thompson of Southside Baptist Church. Internment will follow in Oakland Cemetery at Poteau under the direction of Evans & Miller Funeral Home of Poteau.
Parilee’s life was committed to the God she served and loved. She graduated from Hardin Simmons University in 1956. Her husband, James, was her dearest friend, and she served beside him as a pastor’s wife in Burleson, Texas, Parkland Baptist Church in Clovis, NM, First Baptist Church in Farmington, NM; and First Baptist Church, Poteau, OK. In 1962, Parilee went to East Africa, where she served with her husband as a missionary appointed by the Southern Baptist Foreign Mission Board.
She was born Parilee Nelson, named after her mother and great-grandmother. To her grandchildren, she became known as Bibi (grandmother in Swahili). Bibi was home to her children and their families and took great joy in being with her family. Her love for Africa and missions continued through the years. She served God faithfully at her local church. Parilee was a devoted wife, mother, friend, and a gifted teacher whose love and devotion has enriched the lives of many people.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Southside Baptist Church, Poteau, OK, designated for the Maasai Ministries Fund to be used for ministry to African women. The address is Southside Baptist Church, 505 Holsen, Poteau OK 74953.”