Mark Tollefson

Funeral Services for Mark Maurice Tollefson, 95, Dickinson, formerly of the Hebron area, will be 2:00 p. m. CDT, Wednesday, November 10, at St. John?s Church, 624 Church Avenue, in Hebron. Visitation will be 1:00 p. m. to 6:00 p. m. MDT, Tuesday, November 9, at Stevenson Funeral Home in Dickinson. Mark passed away Wednesday, November 3, 2010 at the Southwest Healthcare Center, Heritage Wing, Bowman, ND. Mark Tollefson was born October 17, 1915 at the Schierbaum House, Hebron, ND, the son of Martin and Malena (Hoverson) Tollefson. He was raised and educated in Farmers Valley School #2, rural Hebron, and Hebron High School. After school, he went home to help his dad on the farm. Mark married Elizabeth Duckwitz on October 4, 1940 at Hebron, ND at the parsonage of the St. Johns E & R Church. They spent their earlier married years on the Tollefson farm, Farmers Valley, Stark County, 10 miles Northeast of Richardton and 12 miles Northwest of Hebron, ND. From 1959 to 1963 Mark worked as a civilian Field Engineer for RCA Global at the Dickinson Radar Base. They moved to Dickinson in 1963. When the Air Base closed he went to work for Sears Roebuck in Dickinson as a Service Technician. He worked this job from 1964 to 1980 when he retired. During all of these years and until 1989, Mark and Elizabeth continued to farm the Tollefson farm. In 1990 they rented the farm out and Mark enjoyed his free time doing the things he favored most, pursuing Amateur Radio activities, repairing and building multiple projects that piqued his interest, computer communications and fishing with friends and his daughters. Particularly fishing with Cheryl and Glenda but also including Elizabeth and the current family dog. He very much enjoyed doing things with his grandsons and great grandchildren and was always on hand to help build and repair things for the family. Mark had a special affinity for Amateur Radio and was an avid ?Ham Radio? operator. From the times of using Morse Code to relay messages in the 1940?s during blizzards and on through equipment advances into the computer era. He was a charter member of the (TRAC) Theodore Roosevelt Amateur Radio Club of Dickinson. His call ID letters were W0ZCM. In the 1980?s Mark taught Amateur ?Ham? Radio Adult Education Classes at the Dickinson High School. These students greatly helped to expand the club. From very early age and on he was never without a good dog until 2010 which found him in nursing care. His last two little favorites were ?Cheerio? and then ?Plinko?. He had a curious and creative mind and was always learning how to make things work. He was totally devoted to family and there was a bit of family fun involving the fact that he was quite outnumbered by the females of the family. He also enjoyed keeping family aware of his ?Norwegian? heritage. Some highpoints of his life (as stated by him) were:Receiving a commendation from the Governor for handling emergency communications traffic in 1956 when all telephone communications were down due to a blizzard. Being named Ham Radio Operator of the Year for North Dakota. Being honored at Dickinson?s Pioneer Days as a Ham Radio Operator. Raising three supportive daughters, Maureen, Cheryl and Glenda of whom mom and I are very proud. Having such great friends in the Theodore Roosevelt Amateur Radio Club. In 2008 his autobiography was published from material that he hand wrote from memories that he and Elizabeth recalled. The Title of his book is ?a North Dakotan for All Time and Proud to be So?. Mark is survived by his wife, Elizabeth, 3 daughters, Maureen (Marlin) Neidhardt, Crawford, Nebraska, Cheryl (Doug Pope) Tollefson, Dickinson and Bowman, Glenda (Lee) Talkington, South Heart, ND; 2 grandchildren, Clinton (Pam) and Colton Neidhardt and two great grandchildren, Wyatt and Jessica Neidhardt. Nephew, Ervin Krueger, Nieces Margery Underdahl, Gladys Aller and many nephews and nieces from Elizabeth?s side of the family, Duckwitzs, Schlenvogts, and Gerbigs. He was preceded in death by his parents; 1 sister Mary ?Marie? Krueger Ding, and 3 brothers, Grover, Forrest and Grant Tollefson. ?When a propeller flows with the wind so does the mind of its creator. ?


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Burial Date: November 10, 2010
Funeral Home Hebron, ND

Funeral Services: Wednesday, St. John’s Church, Hebron, ND