Mark Tuton

Funeral services for Mark Tuton were held on Thursday, March 11, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. at Mills Community Church in Mills, NE, with Pastor Keith Moody and Pastor Kenley Udd, officiating.

Music was provided by Kenley Udd and Steve Swanson, soloists, accompanied by Steve Swanson, pianist. Chris Hallock was in charge of registration.

Casket bearers were Jed German, Casey Carr, Jordan German, Jesse Carr, Eli Carr, Justin German, L.J. Antoine and Wally Antoine. Honorary casket bearers were Jeff Tuton, Dave Hespe and Jody Leonard.

Military honors were conferred by the Gregory American Legion and the National Honors Team. Kotrba-Smith Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

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 was born 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 in 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, South Dakota for several years.

He married Evangeline on August 25, 2006, at Falls Park in Sioux Falls, SD.

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.

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.

Mark was a patriot through and through to the core. 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 March 5, 2021 at the age of 61.

Mark is survived by his wife Evangeline of Mitchell, SD and her children Cheryl Antoine, L.J. Antoine, Wally Antoine, and Tracey Dubray, parents, Stan and Ann Tuton of Mills, NE, sisters - Brenda German (Eric) of Imperial, NE, and Amy Jo Carr (Jeff), Hot Springs, SD and many nieces, nephews and grandkids.