MARK WHALEN obituary

Mark Walter Whalen, 85, died Wednesday, Oct. 20, 2004, at Benefis East in Great Falls due to a subdural hematoma.

A rosary will be held at 7 p.m. today at St. Jude's Catholic Church. A memorial service will be 11 a.m. Friday at St. Jude's with burial at Highland

Cemetery. A luncheon reception will follow the burial ceremony. Cremation has taken place.

Mark was born on Aug. 4, 1919, in Marshall County, Minn., to James and Mary Ellen (Sinnot) Whalen. He graduated from high school and served four years in the Army during World War II. He attained the rank of sergeant.

Mark married Audrey Hawley Harris in Havre in 1950. They later divorced.

He married Kay Salois Henry in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, in 1978. She died in 2000.

Mark worked for the Burlington Northern Railway as a switchman until his retirement. He also was the owner-operator of Whalen's Auto Repair and did combining for area ranchers.

He was a member of the Disabled American Veterans and served as chaplain.

Mark enjoyed building trucks and autos, hunting, reading books from A to Z at the Havre-Hill County Library.

Mark was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Kay; stepson, Les Champagne; and stepdaughter, Patty Henry.

Survivors include his daughters, Beth Whalen of Butte and Blythe (Dan) Hawthorne of Alliance, Neb., stepdaughters, Bonnie Harris of Anchorage, Alaska, Linda Henry of Havre, Helen Wells of Missoula, Rhonda (Dick) McQuestion of Illinois and Leoda (Ken) Oliver of Elko, Nev.; son, Terry (Barbara) Whalen of Medford, Ore.; stepson, John Harris of Pittsburg, Calif., Bob (Linda) Champagne of Great Falls, Steve (Carol) Henry of Missoula, Dan Henry of Missoula and Frank Champagne of Billings; sisters, Bette Thayer of Hanford, Calif., and Frances Crummy of Warren, Minn.; brothers, Stephen Whalen of Great Falls, Phil Whalen of Glen Elly, Ill., Charles (Daisy) Whalen of Olney, Md., John (Fern) Whalen of Bridger and Danny Whalen of Havre; seven grandchildren 20 step-grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; 29 step-great-grandchildren; two step-great-great-grandchildren.

O'Connor Funeral Home of Great Falls and Holland & Bonine Funeral Home of Havre are in charge of arrangements.