Mark Allen Bezenek

Mark Allen Bezenek was born in Huron, South Dakota on February 1, 1945, to Patricia Smith and Glenn Allen Olson. Mark’s father was killed in action during WWII on May 20, 1945, in Okinawa when Mark was just 3 months old. Mark attended grade school and high school in Huron SD, graduating in 1962. Mark was the 1962 Huron High School Session President; a member Boys’ Glee Club; Troubadours; All-State Chorus; “A” Football, Student Manager; Track, Student Manager; “H” Club; Key Club, Board Member; Junior Class President; Senior Elections; Knight of Honor; Student Council; Junior-Senior Prom Committee; and Tiger-Day Float Committee. Mark attended college in Brookings, SD and had numerous jobs in Huron prior to joining the Navy in 1966 during the Vietnam War. Mark completed his Hospital Corpsman schooling at Balboa Naval Hospital in San Diego, California. He served as a Hospital Corpsman at Balboa Naval Hospital in California, Pensacola Naval Hospital in Florida, and the Gulfport Seabee Base in Mississippi. In August 1969 Mark was assigned to the USS Samuel Gompers, a destroyer tender where he was assigned to the ship's hospital department. The USS Samuel Gompers was deployed off the shores of Vietnam, Philippines, Hong Kong, and Japan caring for military troops. Mark described these four years with the Navy as the best years of his military life. In 1970 Mark returned to South Dakota where he obtained a Bachelor of Science degree at Northern State University. While in Aberdeen SD, Mark and Rita met, fell in love, and moved to Rapid City SD. Mark continued his military career joining the Army reserve 1085th helicopter ambulance as a flight medic and medical dispensary medic. Durin these years Mark was a counselor for South Dakota Social Services. In 1989, due to Rita’s employment, the family moved to Salt Lake City, Utah where they have all remained. In Salt Lake City, Mark continued his military service at Fort Douglas as an Active-Duty Medical Recruiter until he retired from the military in 2000 after 24 years of service. After retiring from the military Mark was hired by the State of Utah Workforce Services as a case manager and remained until he retired in 2011. Mark also proudly worked at the Road Home part time from 2004-2008. Mark was a dedicated professional in his military and civilian careers, he would often say that he would do it all over again. It was his pleasure and honor to serve his country, and his counseling positions allowed him to help people in need of financial, food, medical, and shelter assistance. Marks love of his life was his family; he was a dedicated, patient, calm, and loving husband, and father; his love was unconditional in every breath he took. In 47 years, we never heard him raise his voice or yell, he was a great listener and preferred to sit back and listen. Mark loved the outdoors and God’s beauty; he and his loving wife Rita would sit for hours watching the waves in California. For 30 years during Mark’s active and retired military service Mark and Rita would vacation to Coronado Island and Del Mar Beach, his love was always the ocean. Mark was an avid gardener, he spent endless hours caring for his flowers and could usually be found outdoors in his beautiful yard. Mark greatest treasures were the memories of his life with Rita, his children, and grandchildren. He said he was truly blessed to have his family and the life that he had. Mark is survived by his wife Rita (Hanson), son Dustin (Cortnee) Sahli, daughter Tessica (Jim) Reynolds; grandchildren Taylor, Gavin, Ella, Jayden, and Catcher; brothers Mike Bezenek (Mobridge, SD) and Myron Bezenek (Escondido, CA). He is preceded in death by his mother Patricia Bramble, Phil Bramble, his father Glenn Olson, mother-in-law Annabelle Hall, sister-in-law Arlene Hanson. Mark wishes were for no service. He will be laid to rest with military funeral honors at the Utah Veterans Cemetery and Memorial Park at Camp Williams, Bluffdale Utah. To honor Mark’s wishes, “be happy and be good to each other.” Maya Angelou said, “People will forget what you said, and people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Breathe easy now dad, we love you, our hearts are broken but we know we will see you again.

Mark Allen Bezenek

February 1, 1945 - June 6, 2023