Mark Murrey, 67, Wilton, ND left us on Sunday, November 20, 2016 at CHI St. Alexius Health. He passed peacefully at approximately 5 AM when he normally would have been watching Fox News and cursing the state of our country. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 AM Friday, November 25, 2016 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Wilton. Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 PM on Wednesday, November 23, 2016 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church of Wilton, ND. Following visitation, the family encourages everyone to stay and share memories of Mark. Cremation will take place and inurnment will be at 3:00 PM Monday, November 28, 2016 at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, rural Mandan, ND with military rites provided by the Mandan VFW and ND National Guard. Following the burial on Monday, everyone including children, are welcome to join us at the Sportsman's Bar in Wilton to raise one last glass to a great man.

Mark was the fourth of six children born to Frank and Esther (Wanner) Murrey on November 1, 1949. He was raised on the family farm southwest of Wilton. He attended school at Ecklund Country School through 4th grade then on to Wilton Public School. Following graduation in 1967, Mark attended NDSCS in Wahpeton for diesel maintenance. After graduating college in 1969, Mark farmed for a while with his father but was drafted number 8 and entered the US Navy. Boot camp at NTC-RTC in San Diego, CA saw him assigned to USN Mobile Construction Battalion 3 as a heavy equipment mechanic. He toured as a mechanic with MCB3 at Danang, Vietnam from 1970-1971 and again with Seabee team 0321 (Last of Hardcore) in 1972. He was honorably discharged in June of that year. He came home adrift but finally went to work for Haas IH for a short time then started at Butler Machinery in January 1973 where he worked as a mechanic and welder until June 1980. In the meantime, he went back into farming with his father.

On June 29, 1974, he married Sandra Rutschke at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church. They made their home in Bismarck for a few years where they welcomed daughter Patricia in 1976. Eventually they moved to Wilton and then to a farm shared with his brother Stan just outside of town. During that time, he and Sandra welcomed sons Travis in 1981 and Tyrell in 1986. After Mark left Butler he went to work at the Falkirk Mine until shoulder surgery ended his career there in October 2009. No longer being a part of the Falkirk mine was a major loss for Mark and he became adrift again until his passing.

In his free time, Mark enjoyed hunting, watching Fox News, talking politics and having a drink with good friends.

Mark leaves behind wife Sandra; a daughter Patty (Victor) Schock , Bismarck; his sons Travis (Ashley) Murrey, Wilton and Ty (Kelli) Murrey, Washburn; four grandchildren, Rachel and Lindsey Schock, Bismarck, and Lincoln and London Murrey, Wilton; his brothers Stan (Dorothy), Wilton and Tom (Carrie) Kansas City, MO; his sisters Mikkel Libby, Bismarck, Debbie (Ernie) Fritel, Cooperstown, and Colleen (Don) Flinn, Washburn; numerous nieces, nephews, extended family and friends who will miss him greatly.

In lieu of flowers or a memorial please consider donating to the Wounded Warrior Project or another veteran's organization in his memory.