We lost a good friend last month with the passing of Mark Van Houten on March 25.  A memorial service will be held at the local Eagles club on May 15 at 2 p.m.

Mark was born to Ralph and Louise Van Houten on Oct. 26, 1953, in Burns, Oregon. Mark was their fourth child and when he was born, he was almost totally bald. His older siblings nicknamed him Ike, after President Eisenhower. Obviously, those of you who knew him, knew him as Poufy.

Mark attended school in Hut Hines, Oregon and graduated from Burns Union High School. After high school Mark attended Oregon Technical Institute. 

Mark tried his hand at a number of things in his life. He was a city police officer and a reservation officer in Burns. Mark worked in the oil fields in Wyoming and casinos in Reno, Nevada. He eventually ended up in Skagway, Alaska where he worked for the White Pass Railroad until retirement, and then for the National Park Service. 

Mark worked various jobs in Skagway during the winter layoff, sometimes as a short-order cook, at other times as a bartender. Mark was active in the Elks and in the Eagles and enjoyed his fellowship with the people of Skagway. 

Mark was preceded in death by his parents and two older sisters. Mark is survived by his son, Trevor, of Skagway and his older brother Jay Van Houten of Star Idaho.