Obituary of Bettina Maria Parker-Merlin

A shield-maiden laid down her sword and shield and entered the Elysium Fields for a deserved reprieve.

Bettina Maria Parker-Merlin, born in Huizen, Nederlands on September 3, 1932, sneaked away on January 23, 2024. Previously the wife of Peter H. Merlin and Cristobal Morales and survived by her two children, Diana Elizabeth Allgaier and Terrance Christopher Parker, three grandchildren, Maria Allgaier, Sophia Allgaier and Anna Allgaier and her brothers Dirk Keijer, Jaap Keijer, Pieter Keijer, Corrie Keijer in Holland.

Bettina was a businesswoman pioneer and featured in many magazine articles and news interviews. Her career started with Xerox Education Publications and then Extel Corporation before forming her own company Parker Associates. She show cased Extel Electrowriter and Teleprinter at a 1966 trade fair in Moscow where she caught the eye of the President of the USSR, Leonid Breshnev. Bettina cultivated that relationship and through her company, Parker Associates, introduced USA industrial agri-businesses to the USSR and Eastern European countries. She was allowed to have a coveted office in Moscow and known to be able to circumvent the red tape for business travel and business contract negotiations in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. Additionally, she hosted several Soviet trade delegations into the USA and was instrumental in the development of détente between the USA and USSR.

Bettina was an avid water skier, snow skier and during her retirement became an excellent golfer. She would play from the men’s tees and her joy was to always outdrive her son. Bettina beloved Mom, wife and sister is dearly missed.

In lieu of flowers, Bettina loved all animals and requested a donation to Animal Friends Alliance be made at https://www.savinganimalstoday.org/donate/.