Mark Schoknecht

Mark J. Schoknecht, 95, of Libby, died on Thursday, June 16, 2005, at St. John's Lutheran Hospital.

He was born on April 20, 1910, to Henry and Julia Neils Schoknecht at Sauk Rapids, Minn. The family moved to Kalispell in 1912, when Mark was two years old. He was the third of four children.

He grew up in a German Lutheran family and was active in the church throughout his life, singing in the choir, playing the organ, teaching Sunday school and serving as church president.

After graduating from Flathead High School in 1928, Mark attended Valparaiso University in Indiana and the University of Washington.

In 1951 he married Faye Matthews and they had two children, Paula and Joel.

Mark worked for J. Neils Lumber Company for 44 years, starting as time clerk and retiring in 1974 as plant manager. He was active in the Western Pine Association and National Lumberman's Association and was a past president of the Intermountain Logging Congress and the Montana State Board of Forestry.

Mark always enjoyed planting and had a wonderful garden. He spent time each summer at his cherry orchard on Flathead Lake and planted many trees there and on the Cabinet View Golf Course at Libby.

A community activist, Mark served on the St. John's Lutheran Hospital board for more than 30 years, as a bank director for First National Bank for more than 20 years and on the Cabinet View Country Club board. He and Faye served as Nordicfest king and queen in 1991.

Mark was interested in and supportive of the arts and was honored to have the performing arts center at the Memorial Center bear his name.

He was active in the Lutheran Layman's League, Church Extension and the National Lutheran Church Foundation. He enjoyed playing bridge, golf, traveling and spending time at his cabin on Crystal Lake. His presence and involvement in the community will be missed not only by his family but also by countless friends.

Survivors include his wife Faye of Libby; sister Dorothy Schoknecht, Kalispell; daughter Paula Sandman and her husband Bob, Whitefish; son Joel and his wife Shauna, Kalispell, and grandchildren Stacia, Brandann and Ashley Rohrer, Logan Sandman and Ryenne Schoknecht.

Services were conducted at 11 a.m. on Monday, June 20, at the Mark Schoknecht Performing Arts Center.

Memorials may be made to the Memorial Center or St. John's Hospital Foundation.

Arrangements were under direction of the Nelson & Vial Funeral Home.