Mark S. King

Mark S. King, 69, passed away at his home in Whitefish on Thursday, March 29. He was born in 1949 to Helen and Jack King in Pontiac, Michigan.

Mark spent the early years of his life as an active boy building famous go carts and playing in the lakes around his house. He had many a story about boats and selling frog legs. Mark went to Pontiac Central High School and enlisted in the Army before he finished. He served 1966 to 1969, the last year plus being in Vietnam.

Mark eventually picked up and moved west when he got back from Vietnam. He lived in Vail, Colorado, before moving to Whitefish in 1988. He opened Mark King and Friends, a quality woodworking shop that he operated on Baker Avenue across from the old police station. In 1999 he moved the shop to Hodgson Road where it will continue.

In 1999 Mark married Sue Ann Grogan and together with son Zak, they made a home together at the new wood shop and the bachelor apartment and small house that Mark designed. Their home is a beautiful example of the craftsmen style woodworking at which Mark excelled. It was his dream to build his own space and so he did it.

Mark loved golf. He was an incredible skier and he was an avid bicyclist. In 1997 he returned to Vietnam and rode his bike from the south to north through the entire country to the Chinese border. Those of us who know Mark know he did the very best at each thing he did. He played on the local pool league for decades and enjoyed whitewater rafting. Mark loved music and often invited bands to play around town and in the wood shop.

He is survived by his wife Sue Ann, son Zak of Las Vegas, sister Judy of Oklahoma, brother Jan and sister in law Jen of Australia and many nieces and nephews and extended family. Mark believed in being a good friend and he created a family of friends. Never met a man with so many brothers and sisters.

A memorial is planned at Mark and Sue Ann’s home on Monday, April 9 from 5 to 7 p.m.

Online condolences for the family may be submitted on Mark’s webpage at www.austinfh.com. Austin Funeral & Cremation Services in Whitefish is caring for the family.