Mark Jordan, 81

MARK W. JORDAN, 81

Mark Wesley Jordan died peacefully Wednesday, June 13,2007 at the Butte Convalescence Center after a long battle with cancer.

Mark Wesley Jordan was born in Winona, Washington October 30, 1925, a son of Frank and Virgie Jordan. He was raised on wheat ranches near Winona and Chewelah, Washington. He was a graduate of Jenkins High School (1943)in Chewelah and much later attended the University of Montana Law Enforcement Academy.

Mark served in the U.S. Navy during World War Two, in the Pacific Theater. At war’s end his unit was in Okinawa preparing for the invasion of Japan. Following his release from active duty he moved to Butte. He worked for Hennessy’s, and Bertoglios in uptown Butte before becoming a partner in the Butte Bozeman Delivery Service. He then worked as a Teamster for F & S Construction, and The Anaconda Company driving in the Berkeley and Alice Pits, sometimes hauling waste for fill for the growing Interstate Highway System. A strike led him to Kunkel-Wills Pontiac GMC where worked as lot manager for several years during the 1960's. Mark was an active member of the Butte Vigilante Saddle Club and was Major of the Silver Bow Count Sheriff Posse. This led to his being deputized by then Sheriff Bill Dawling. He served eleven years as a deputy sheriff and twelve years as a police sergeant for Butte-Silver Bow County. He was proud to have served as court bailiff for judges Mark Sullivan and Arnold Olsen.
Mark was variously active in the American Legion, the Loyal Order of Moose, the BPOE, and was a Life Member of the VFW.

The Jefferson Valley was a very special place for Mark where he had many close friends and where he brought his family so that he could share his country roots with them. He loved horses and knew every inch of Whitetail Park where he loved to hunt with the Strozzi’s, Von Mills and his dear friend George Bechtold . Ed Judd, Roy Hastie, and Cliff Sanders hunted all the rest of the area with him at a time when deer and elk meat where worth more than a “rustlin’ card” with the ACM. In later years Mark and Little Roy Hastie may have shot a million gophers, more or less. After he “retired” in 1988 he made his home in Waterloo and Whitehall.

For better or worse, Mark Jordan was married three times and raised three families. His first wife Phyllis (1928-2001) bore him two sons. David M.(Robin) Jordan, Butte, Montana; and Richard G. (Melody) Jordan, with beloved Granddaughter Desiree Rose in Seward, Alaska.

Mark’s second family tragically lost three children David, Steve, and Danette over the
years they where together through accident or disease. A stepson Mark (Kari) Beuthien with their son Scott in Federal Way, Washington were greatly loved as Mark loved all Judy’s kids.






Mark’s third wife Dorothy Nudd Dubois, who preceded him in death in 2007, brought him three fine stepsons to raise as his own in Whitehall. Mark was very proud of them and their young families: Kenneth “Gus” (Nickie) Senst, Whitehall; Rickie (Amy) DuBois, Douglas, Wyoming; and Waylon (Detra) Dubois, Whitehall. Among them, they gave Mark eight more step-grandchildren who filled Mark’s last years with love and joy. Although, none will miss him more than his dear little Austin.




Also preceding him in death were his parents, brother Orville, and sisters Jerrie and
Norma.

He is also survived by his brother Virgil (Betty) Jordan, Winona, Washington; and sisters Jeanie (Dale) Gough, Spokane, Washington; Lois (Arnie) Bowman, Pendleton, Oregon; and Carol Jacobson, Walla Walla, Washington. He will be sorely missed by many nieces and nephews who loved their dear Uncle Mark.

A visitation funeral service will be held at Gold Hill Memorial Church in Butte on Monday, June 18, 11:00 a.m. with luncheon to follow. All friends and relatives are cordially invited to attend.

Final funeral services will be held at the Assembly of God Church in Whitehall, Montana on Tuesday, June 19, 10:00 a.m. with luncheon to follow. Internment will be at Mountain View Cemetery, Dillon, Montana at 1:30 p.m.

K & L Mortuaries of Whitehall are in charge of arrangements.

Memorials encouraged to Easter Seals / Highlands Hospice.

by David Mark Jordan