Michael Carter Parsons passed away from cancer at his home at Georgetown, CA on August 22, 2020, at the age of 76.  Graveside services will be held Tuesday, August 3, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. at the Riverside Cemetery at Fort Benton, MT.

Michael was born on August 17, 1944, at St. Claire Hospital in Fort Benton, MT to Arthur and Lorene (Stranahan) Parsons.  While his father was overseas during WWII, his mother was staying with her parents, Clint and Marie Stranahan on the river ranch at Loma. After the war his father finished his education at Bozeman, MT and then moved the family to Schenectady, NY while working for General Electric.  In 1955, a transfer to San Francisco brought the family to live in San Rafael, CA.  Mike attended Davidson Junior High School, then San Rafael High School, graduating in 1962.  He enlisted in the electronics courses while in the Navy and was appointed an Electronics Technician Class C-1.  He received the National Defense Service Medal.  After his honorable discharge in January 1967, he returned to San Rafael and attended College of Marin, graduating with an Associate of Science Degree in 1970.  He worked in an electronics shop for several years but decided inside work was not for him.  For many years he drove truck delivering oxygen in Vallejo, CA.  In 1982, he purchased property in the mountains and made the move to the gold country.  He enjoyed panning for gold and entered many gold-panning competitions.  He worked for Agilent Technologies in Roseville, CA.  When Agilent split, he continued with the new Keysight Technologies division until retiring in 2015.  Mike considered Montana his home, having spent many summers on the Missouri River ranch with his grandparents.  He continued visiting Montana annually until his death.

Mike was preceded in death by his parents, Lorene A. Stranahan and Arthur C. & Carla Parsons (stepmother); sister, Judith Struthers; grandparents, Clinton & Marie (Schultz) Stranahan and Arthur & Bertha (Carter) Parsons; and his aunt and uncle, Anne & Al Shaw.

He is survived by sisters, Carol Blanchard (Bob) of Fort Benton, MT and Jeanne McKevitt (David) of OR; brother-in-law, Jeffrey Struthers of WA; nephews, Geoffrey Blanchard (Rose Goldhahn) and Daniel Blanchard (DarCi Hooper) of Fort Benton; and nieces, Elizabeth Perez, MN and Melinda McKevitt, OR.

Memorials may be made to the Chouteau County Cancer Support Group: CCCSG, P.O. Box 213, Fort Benton, MT 59442; Dedman Animal Shelter, P.O. Box 1282, Fort Benton, MT 59442; or a charity of one's choice.  Please visit Mike's online memorial page at www.bentonfh.com to leave a message of condolence for his family.