Mark Sundby

Mark S. Sundby, 72, passed away after a valiant battle with cancer on July 27, 2023.

His sweet and heartbroken wife Bonnie was there holding his hand as he went to sleep.

A funeral service will be held at 1:00 PM, Tuesday, August 1, at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Pkwy, Bismarck.

Following the service Mark requested a Celebration of his life with “food and libation” at Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, 3205 N. 14^th St. Bismarck

Visitation will be held from 5-7 PM Monday, July 31 at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Pkwy, Bismarck.

Mark was born to Carol (Brown) and Leroy (Buster) Sundby on February 1, 1951. Raised and educated in Turtle Lake, he attended UND after which he taught school in Rapid City for a year.  He then came back to work on the power houses being built in the Bismarck area as a crane operator.  Alongside with the best boilermakers in the nation, they assembled and set the pollution control devices.

In 1976, he attained his flight instructors license and worked for OK Aviation and Executive Air. He instructed over one hundred students with their flying.

Mark was adamant that he would never get married.  However, on July 1, 1979, he placed a ring on Bonnie Dockter’s finger. They enjoyed 44 years of laughter, tears and pickled fish.

In 1984 he started his career with North American Coal at the Indian Head mine at Zap. In 1989 he transferred to the Coteau mine north of Beulah where he enjoyed over 20 years of employment as a heavy equipment and crane operator.

Retiring in 2010 he had a dozen years of fishing, hunting, riding motorcycle, and flying his 1946 Taylorcraft airplane.  (Bonnie often thought he was having too much fun.)

He is survived by his wife, Bonnie; father-in-law, Reuben; two sisters, Joanne (Jim) Britton of Turtle Lake and Lori Allison of Indio Ca.; a brother, Dennis also of Turtle Lake and seven nieces and nephews whom he adored.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Alan, and mother-in-law, Deloris Dockter.

The family extends sincere gratitude to Sanford Hospice who provided excellent care to both Mark and Bonnie during this ordeal.  A special thank-you to Mark’s niece Stacey, who provided round-the-clock nursing care in Mark’s last days. Her familiar voice and gentle touch gave Mark and Bonnie both confidence and peace knowing he was in her capable, loving hands.

Mark lived the way he died – loved.