Mark Allen Macdonald

Mark Allen Macdonald, 43, Bismarck, ND, died March 26, 2014, at St. Alexius Medical Center, Bismarck, ND. Services will be held at 1:30 pm Monday, March 31, 2014, at Trinity Lutheran Church, Bismarck, ND, with Rev. Steve Sathre officiating. Burial will be at Fairview Cemetery, Bismarck. Visitation will be held from 4:00 pm -7:00 pm, Sunday, March 30, 2014, at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Parkway, Bismarck. Mark, son of Gary and Diane Mahlum Macdonald, was born November 29, 1970, in Billings, MT. He moved with his family to Wolf Point, MT, where he was raised and graduated from Wolf Point High School. He was very involved in AAU Wrestling, starting when he was 5 years old and even got to wrestle in AAU Grand Nationals. Mark's first love in his life was country singer Reba McEntire, but he met his second love at Capital Lanes Bowling Alley in 1993 and it was love at first sight for both of them. Mark and Lisa Ballensky were united in marriage on August 27, 1994. On May 19, 1995, they were blessed with their daughter Rachel. She immediately became daddy's little girl and had him wrapped around her little finger from day one. Rachel and Mark spent many happy hours fishing together on the Missouri River, and Mark loved their long late night talks in the garage. Mark wasn't able to say no to Rachel's many requests for "just one more" pet so that is why there were always more cats and dogs and even a rabbit than there were people in the house. On January 28, 1998, their family was blessed once again with the addition of their son, Jackson. Mark and Jackson both loved football and went to many Vikings games together to be able to see their favorite teams play – the Broncos and the Saints. Every football season was a rivalry between the two on whose team was better – Mark's beloved Denver Broncos or Jackson's New Orleans Saints. Mark and Jackson loved to hunt in the Badlands together and Jackson inherited his father's love for collecting all kinds of rocks. Mark loved the outdoors and his passions were hunting and fishing. He always had room in his boat for you, as long as you were willing to get up at the crack of dawn and stay out all day long. He loved bow-hunting in the fall with his friends in the Badlands and was most happy when he could track a deer through the hills all day. Mark owned his own business, River City Geotextiles, and was the ultimate salesman. He always knew someone wherever he went. Mark also was a true friend to everyone and was always willing to help out when asked. His handiwork is left behind in the stamped and colored concrete he worked on all over town. Mark will be greatly missed by everyone that got the chance to meet him. He is survived by his wife of 19 years, Lisa; daughter, Rachel; son, Jackson, all of Bismarck, ND; his parents, Gary and Diane Macdonald, of Wolf Point, MT; his brother, John Vicki, of WestMinster, CO; his sister, Kim Dalton Sallee, New Castle, CO; mother and father in-law, Marvin and Lois Ballensky; brothers in-law Marvin Lori Ballensky, Mark Ballensky; sister-in-law, LaWanda Curtis Wiedrich; nieces, Kristen Sallee, Ashley Bryce Howson, Lisa and Breanna Ballensky, Natalie Ballensky, Nautica Geestman; nephews, Shea Deb Sallee, Devin Richardson, Travis Cara Ballensky, Nicholas Ballensky, Nathaniel Geestman, Dawson Wiedrich; great nieces and nephews, Peyton and Piper Howson, Aiden and Braxton Sallee, and Riley Ballensky; and lots of very special friends. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Rodell and Blanche Mahlum and Donald and Lillian Macdonald.

Mark Allen Macdonald

November 29, 1970 - March 26, 2014