Aaron Eaton Parkhurst

Aaron Eaton Parkhurst, M.D., 87, died Friday, July 17, 2026, at Meadow View of Greeley with his, wife, son, and daughter present.

He was born March 7, 1939, the second son of Leslie E. and Marian (Murtaugh) Parkhurst in the home of his maternal grandparents, John E. and Mathilda Murtaugh in Albert Lea, Minnesota. After their mother’s death in 1942, Aaron and his brother, Lyman, were raised by their Grandpa and Grandma Murtaugh.

Every year in the spring the family moved from their home on Fourth Street to their cottage on the shore of Fountain Lake at the edge of downtown Albert Lea, to open their summer business, The Casino. The Casino opened in 1910 and was a large dance pavilion where they featured live dance bands and a large dock and boat livery offering fishing boats, outboard motors, and canoes for hire and live bait for sale. Aaron’s first job was to stack the bottles of “pop” in the coolers. He went on to learn the business and when his grandparents retired and closed the dance pavilion during his sophomore year of high school, Aaron continued to run the boat livery summers until he went on active duty in the U.S. Navy the summer of 1957.

Aaron graduated from Albert Lea High School in 1957 where he lettered in football and baseball. Following graduation, he went on active duty in the U.S. Navy for two years and completed four more years on active reserve as a corpsman. While stationed at the U.S. Naval Air Station in Anacostia, D.C., Aaron attended night school at George Washington University. He returned to Minnesota when he was released from active duty and in September 1959, he entered the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis.

In 1960, Aaron married Marlene Ann Satre, his childhood friend and “high school sweetheart.” Together they worked his way through Pre-med and Medical School at the University, where he received his Bachelor of Science degree and graduated from Medical School in 1966. During this time Aaron worked part time at the University Hospital, starting as an orderly, with promotions to operating room technician, morgue diener and anesthesia extern. Aaron also did externships at several private hospitals in the Twin Cities. While in Medical School, he was a member of the James E. Moore Medical Society and Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society.

Following graduation, Dr. and Mrs. Parkhurst and their one-year-old son, Derek, moved to Dallas, TX where Dr. Parkhurst was an Intern in Straight Medicine at Parkland Memorial Hospital.

On July 1, 1967, Dr. Parkhurst began a four-year Orthopedic Residency at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School and completed rotations at Parkland Memorial Hospital, Baylor University Medical Center, The Scottish Rite Hospital for Crippled Children, and the Dallas VA Hospital. During this time their daughter, Nicole, was born in 1968.

The family moved to Greeley, CO in the summer of 1971 and Dr. Parkhurst joined Greeley Orthopedic Associates in the practice of Orthopedic surgery. The family was quickly drawn to the mountains, camping and learning to ski, which they enjoyed together until the teenagers went away to college.

Dr. Parkhurst was on the surgical staff of North Colorado Medical Center where he served in leadership positions of many committees. He was Chief of Staff in 1979 and 1980. Dr. Parkhurst was the University of Northern Colorado Bear’s Orthopedic Team Physician for 27 years and he was inducted into the UNC Athletic Hall of Fame in 1998. He was dedicated to the practice of Orthopedic Medicine and helping his patients.

Dr. Parkhurst was a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery, a Fellow of the American Surgeons, A member of the Western Orthopedic Association and a member of the American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine. He was also a member of the Weld County Medical Society, the Colorado Medical Society, and the Colorado Orthopedic Society. Dr. Parkhurst retired in November of 1998.

During his life in Greeley, Aaron was a member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, the Eaton Country Club, the UNC Blue and Gold Club, Beebe Draw Gun Club, Pheasants Forever and the American Legion. He served on the Board of Directors of the Boys and Girls Club and the Weld County Ducks Unlimited Committee; he was the 1989 Chairman.

In retirement, Aaron enjoyed volunteering with “kids’ programs.” He was a tutor for the accelerated reading program at Monfort Elementary School, and when his Greeley grandsons, Blake and Connor, entered school he volunteered in their classrooms at Our Savior’s Pre-school and at Frontier Academy as well as the Tuesday Crossing Guard. He was also a coach for his grandsons’ Greeley/Evans Youth League baseball teams and an avid supporter of all their activities and one of their biggest fans.

Derek, Ruth, and their children lived in South Dakota. While retired Aaron and Marlene were free to travel to be there for special occasions, for granddaughter, Darian’s dance performances and to see grandson, Marcus’ latest carpentry and leather creations. They also enjoyed several family trips with Derek, Ruth and kids and Nicole, Tad and boys to the Black Hills, Disney World, and Mexico.

Aaron was a thoughtful and humble man of many talents and interests. In boyhood, guided by his beloved Grandpa Murtaugh, Aaron became a serious reader of the Classics and American History. He continued this passion throughout his life. Another of his passions was hunting. Schooled by his grandpa, Aaron began hunting ducks at the lakes near Albert Lea when he was six years old. Aaron and his grandpa also hunted pheasants in the fields of Southern Minnesota in the fall and Aaron, on snowshoes, hunted fox in the winter with friends. After moving to Colorado Aaron extended his hunts to include geese and elk. His love of hunting upland game birds endured the longest and was shared by his son, Derek. This passion was enriched in 1981 when the family purchased the first of five Golden Retrievers over 30 years. With patience and help from a great breeder, trainer and friend, Aaron learned the art of training and handling the dogs to perform well in the field. He loved them all and “those dogs could hunt.”

Aaron also enjoyed participating in team sports. His favorite being baseball which he started at age 5 and played all positions except first base and he mostly pitched. He continued through the ranks concluding with American Legion and Albert Lea High School. As an adult he was a loyal ProTeam fan, a good golfer, and an avid fly fisherman.

The last 8 years of his life, Dr. Parkhurst patiently endured the challenges of Alzheimer’s.

In memory of Aaron, watch a sports event, read a book, drink a cup of Starbucks French Roast coffee, or sip a glass of Cabernet.

He is survived by his wife, Marlene of 66 years, son Derek Aaron Parkhurst, daughter, Nicole Erin Phillips and son-in-law, Tad. Also surviving are grandchildren Blake Phillips, Darian Parkhurst, Connor Phillips, and Marcus Parkhurst. Sister-in-law, Cathy Parkhurst, niece Rita Stoffel and two nephews, John and Lyman Lee Parkhurst.

There will be a memorial service on Saturday, August 8, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at Adamson Life Celebration Home, 2000 47th Avenue, Greeley, CO 80634.

Inurnment will be 1:00 P.M. Tuesday, August 11th at Fort Logan National Cemetery, 3698 S. Sheridan Blvd. Denver, CO 80235.