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Mark passed away peacefully at 623 pm 25 Jan 2019 at St Cloud VA Center of cancer. Mark was a great friend to many and will be missed. Carlton Bjerkaas
Obituray
Mark Rostad, 1948-2019
Published 5:22 pm Monday, February 4, 2019, Fergus Falls Daily Journal
Mark Gregory Rostad, 71, lifelong resident of Fergus Falls and Ottertail Lake, passed away on January 25 of pancreatic cancer at St. Cloud VA Medical Center in the loving presence of his family. A private celebration of Mark’s life will be held this summer.
Mark, son of Maynard and Viola Rostad, grew up in Fergus Falls with his siblings Grant and Leola. He was an adventurous child and even had a tame hawk. The beginnings of many lifelong friendships began in his teenage years, as did his lifelong interest in the outdoors. He enjoyed driving his 50cc Honda to Pebble lake in the summer, swimming and hanging out with his friends when he wasn’t working at the A&W.
He joined the U.S. Navy at age 17 and specialized in radio mechanics. He participated in over 100 aerial combat missions in Vietnam, serving his country with excellence and honor.
Mark and Ellen were married for 10 years, remaining lifelong friends. They were blessed with two daughters, Shannon and Jennifer, and eight grandchildren. Mark owned and operated North Star Siding for many years.
Mark was a trapper, hunter, fisherman, and outdoorsman who found success doing it his way. He relished the camaraderie of deer camp, Friday night steak grill before the fishing opener, and breakfasts with friends. Celebrating his birthday at Red Lobster and the Fourth of July barbecue at his cabin were annual highlights. He savored the tranquility of a sunrise over Ottertail Lake, snowshoeing on a fresh blanket of snow while checking his trapline, and relaxing with a good book or his afternoon gin and tonic.
Mark will be held in loving memory and honor by his daughters and their families and his many friends, old and new.
Condolences can be sent to: Family of Mark Rostad, 35800 County Highway 72, Battle Lake, MN 56515
https://www.fergusfallsjournal.com/2019/02/mark-rostad-1948-2019/
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Tom Hintgen
Mark and I got to know each other better in the years after high school..........thanks in part to Carlton Bjerkaas for lining up lunch at Mabel Murphy a while back for me, Mark and Carlton......Mark was proud that he finally buckled down academically while in military service.....he obtained his GED while in the service and contacted our high school counselor Hal Leland to see if he could be added to the class list........Hal, who later served at the community college and who also later on served as mayor of Fergus Falls, granted Mark's wish......Mark was so very happy to be part of the FFHS Class of 1966......a great guy who will be missed but long remembered.....rest in peace Mark.......Tom Hintgen
Judy K Anderson (Stock)
Great person., Mark and I had a nice visit with Mark at Fargo VA....seams not that long ago.
Judy Anderson Stock
Don Leroy
We haven't seen Mark in many years but are saddened by his passing. Rest in peace my friend, good men are hard to find and are missed greatly when they pass and you will be greatly missed!
Don and Colleen LeRoy, Fergus Falls, MN
Dick Richards
I left Fergus Falls in 1965 in my Jr year for North Carolina, so did not graduate FFHS. Mark and I were very close growing up and I have kept up with him through the years. I was copied in on many many emails and texts during Marks last week or so of his life. Many thanks for the hours of time and the messages, John Weise. You will be blessed for serving your fellow Friend, Mark. I was told that Mark had verbalized his assurance of salvation in our Lord Jesus and is now in Heaven with his Mom and Dad. How wonderful.
Steve Bradt
I had the opportunity to spend quite a bit of time with Mark in the past few years. Moving to Battle Lake in the fall of last year allowed me to stop in and check up on him regularly, often times joining him for his favorite drink....gin and tonic. He loved talking about fishing or hunting, and had a great memory for recalling activities from long ago. He loved being a part of the class of '66. He was a really nice guy and I will miss him dearly.
Steve Bradt
John Wiese
Mark and Ellen were no longer married but remained friends. They had two daughters and all of them were with Mark when he died. They told me they would not have a funeral/memorial service but they would honor their dad on his favorite weekend each year....4th of July.
Every year Mark had a 4th of July gathering at his house on the west shore of Ottertail Lake. It was a picnic with many of Mark's family and friends and they would watch the Ottertail Lake 4th of July Parade go by in front of Mark's house.
This year Mark's family will carry on that event to honor Mark's memory. They will set the date and make it known somehow. Connie and I will be there.
God loved Mark and so did I.
John Wiese
Dennis W Gullickson
Mark and I had some of the same interests. Hunting, fishing and reading the same genre of books. Mark was a prolific reader and probably read 6-7 times more books that I did. Pre kindle we would trade boxes full of books. When I brought books his way he would always say “This is just like Christmas”. We shared a duck blind many times and he loved duck hunting with me because I didn’t make him take any ducks home. His saying in the duck blind, as we watched the sunrise, was “This is the best place in the world for the first cup of coffee in the morning”. We both shared that feeling. It was our time together and not hunting success that made the hunt enjoyable. One of the reasons we got along so well is because I was usually quiet and Mark loved to talk. He was the best story teller, next to my dad, that I ever knew. He could tell stories about his navy days, his trapping, fishing and other adventure experiences without end. I never heard him speak badly of anyone. Mark was a kind and true friend. I will miss him.
Kathryn K Kantrud (Dahl)
I am in awe of the wonderful memories you all have of Mark.
It is all good to know.
He is probably in a duck blind or ice fish house right now for all we know.
Hope so.