John Mark, 83, of Fargo, ND, passed away on Sunday, March 22, 2026 at Bethany Retirement Living in Fargo.

John Bryan Mark was born to Harris and Elizabeth Mark in Fargo, North Dakota, on September 12, 1942. John’s father was a podiatrist and died at an early age, when John was sixteen years old. His mother, known as Betty, supported John & his brother Phil by teaching piano lessons and playing the organ at church.

John attended Horace Mann, Ben Franklin, and Fargo Central High School, where he graduated in 1960. While in high school, John was a member of the boys’ octet, concert choir, glee club, and key club. He received athletic letters in hockey and golf. His golf team won the 1960 State Championship. He played in many junior golf tournaments in North Dakota and its surrounding states.

After high school graduation, John enrolled in North Dakota State University. He entered the pharmacy program and quickly learned this would not be his forte. However, this educational start would come in handy when he was drafted and served in the U.S. Army from 1964 to 1966. He was trained in pharmacy at Ft. Leonard Wood in El Paso, Texas. He proceeded to serve in Korea during the Vietnam conflict, where he received two medals.

Following his tour of duty, John came back and worked at Fargo Country Club in the pro shop while finishing his education at NDSU, where he graduated in 1968 with a B.S. in Business Economics. While at NDSU, John was a member of the golf team, concert choir, and Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.

Professionally, John worked in various sales positions at IBM Corporation, Sorenson Real Estate, and Swanston Equipment. The bulk of his career was spent at Knight Printing. John’s retirement years brought him to Menards for a reason to be up early and productive.

In his free time, John found joy as a starter at Fargo Country Club for many years, which he fondly referenced as his second home in town. He received a Resolution of Honor from its Board of Trustees on March 7th, 2026, for his extraordinary service and decades of positive impact in promoting junior golf.

A firm believer in philanthropy and civic duty, he was a proud member of the North Dakota Jaycees, Fargo Kiwanis, and NDSU Teammakers, all of where he held presidential positions. The love of golf resonated throughout John’s life since he picked up a club as a child. John dug into his passion, and his resume became admirable and impressive in this area. He served on the board of directors of the Grand Forks Country Club. Following this, he served as a vice president for the North Dakota Golf Association. He was named chairman of the 1971 state amateur and the 1974 state seniors tournaments. John served many terms on the board at Oxbow Country Club and also held a presidential position in the 80’s. He spent years in support of the Bobcat North Dakota Open and the Roger Maris Celebrity Golf Tournament.

In 1997, he received the prestigious honor of being inducted into the North Dakota Golf Hall of Fame. One of the most dynamic supporters of junior golf in the history of North Dakota, John served as the North Dakota representative on the USGA’s US Junior Amateur Committee for over 30 years and a USGA rules official for decades. He was responsible for bringing the 1995 US Junior Amateur Championship to the Fargo Country Club, representing the first and only USGA Championship ever held in North Dakota.John’s wealth of extensive storytelling, graciousness, and professionalism on and off the golf course will be fondly remembered in the Fargo community. His friends will miss his banter while watching many sporting games and tournaments at various local hangouts. His family will miss his presence at important moments and events, as a loyal spectator, supporter, and cheerleader.

John was preceded in death by his parents, Harris and Elizabeth Mark, and his brother and sister-in-law, Phillip and Dorothy Mark. John is survived by his beloved nieces, Michelle Mark Krebs (Jeffrey) and Alison Mark Zapf (Michael); great-nieces, Jessica Maddocks (Parker) and Gabrielle Krebs; great-nephews Justin Krebs (Marina) and Evan Zapf; great-great-nephew, Wyndham Maddocks; and cousins, Renee Lier, Michele Lier, Patrice Lier, and families.