Mary Durand, age 86 of Lemmon, passed away on Thursday, June 10, 2010 at the West River Regional Medical Center in Hettinger.

On October 1, 1923, Dr. and Mrs. J. O. Lisenby gave birth to their first child Mary Elizabeth (Betty). She was raised in Atmore and attended Sophie Newcomb College in New Orleans, there meeting Ray Parmley in 1941, who was later to become a nationally known anesthesiologist, marrying and having four sons together: Otis, John, Rob and Tim. Betty and Ray parted ways after 26 years of meaningful marriage.

Several years later in 1972 Betty married Dana Durand, who was an Army Captain in WWII (he earned the Silver Star for combat conduct in Germany above and beyond the call of duty), and with whom she had continuous fun until he died in 2004. Betty then moved from Atmore to Auburn, Alabama to be near her sister Sara Muelling. Following Sara's death in 2007, Betty moved to Lemmon, South Dakota to be cared for by her son Tim and daughter in law Susan. Betty had five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Betty was a member of the Junior League in Kansas City, Missouri. She best liked being outside and playing golf, where she could chip and putt with the best of them. She shot and hit five out of five skeet with a 12 gauge shotgun in front of her four young and disbelieving sons. She also toured many museums in the United States and Europe. She was sensitive, intuitive, happy, humorous, strong, independent and energetic.

Immediately following a serious stroke, Betty died peacefully in Lemmon on June 10, 2010 with her son, daughter, and granddaughter by her side. She was, is, and always will be fondly appreciated by all of her large and extended family. Rest well Betty, you sure earned it!

Among survivors are her son and daughter-in-law, Tim and Susan Parmley, Lemmon, SD.

There will be no memorial service.