Mark Stanley Tuton, 61

Mark Stanley Tuton was born March 4, 1960, in Chadron, NE to Stan and Ann (Gipson) Tuton. When his father, Stan Tuton graduated from Chadron State College, they moved to Veteran, WY. They lived there three years, where Mark welcomed his sister Brenda to the family. In 1963, upon his paternal grandfather‘s death they moved back to the family farm where Mark lived the rest of his school days. Little sister Amy Jo, (whom he named) was welcomed by him as his ‘favorite little sis’ in 1965.

Upon high school graduation in 1978, Mark attended and graduated from Chadron State College with an educational degree majoring in English and History. While in college, he and his lifelong friend, Dave Hespe, enlisted in the National Guard in December 1980 and did their basic training at Fort Benning, GA.

Mark taught English a few years and then pursued commercial painting. Upon his death, he had worked at Trail King in Mitchell, SD for several years.

He married the love of his life Evangeline on August 25, 2006 at Falls Park in Sioux Falls, SD. They then rescued Sadie, their beloved fur baby, and “Oh did they love her!”

His sisters remember him as the quieter, more patient, kinder one of the bunch. What really got his goat was having to drink his milk at meals - hating it so much he would plug his nose and to the sisters delight, fall out of his chair.

Mark accepted Jesus as his Savior as a young boy with his mother. Always inquisitive, he liked to know all the facts before making his personal decision, that Jesus had indeed died for his sins and that he was a sinner in need of a Savior. He enjoyed attending Camp Witness as a youth. Mark wasn’t a big church attender but would live out his beliefs to his family and friends, often chiding the sisters if they were judgmental or mean.

Mark nightly called his dad, where they would watch a ball game together via a discussion by phone. He was known to show up at nieces/ nephews important events - congratulate them and then off he would go. He was a loving son, husband, father and grandfather.

Mark wasn’t big on technology - he enjoyed his flip phone and didn’t need an upgrade. He kept his family on their toes with music and political postings. That’s an area the sisters never challenged him in - on his historical facts and accuracy. Mark loved hunting and visiting many people about family history.

Mark was a patriot through and through to the core. We know Mark has already been in line to the great throne asking “What are we going to do about the state of affairs in my great nation?” True to form, Mark posted this song on his 61st birthday - “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue” by Toby Keith.

Mark passed away suddenly in a car accident on March 5, 2021, at the age of 61.

Mark is survived by his wife, Evangeline of Mitchell, SD; her children, Cheryl Antoine, L.J. Antoine, Wally Antoine and Tracey Dubray; parents, Stan and Ann Tuton of Mills, NE; sisters, Brenda (Eric) German of Imperial, NE and Amy Jo (Jeff) Carr of Hot Springs, SD; and many nieces, nephews and grandkids. Funeral services for Mark, were held on Thursday, March 11, 2021 at

Funeral services for Mark, were held on Thursday, March 11, 2021 at the Mills Community Church in Mills, NE. There will be a private family committal service at a later date.

Kotrba-Smith Funeral Home in Gregory, SD was in charge of arrangements.