Mark Bratlie

Mark Bratlie, 74, Fargo, ND, passed peacefully from this earthly realm on Saturday, June 11, 2022, under the care of Beehive Homes of Moorhead and Hospice of the Red River Valley. Family was at his side. He lived life fully as a teacher, stained-glass artist, activist, musician, and writer.

Mark was born in Moorhead, MN, on March 22, 1948, to Otto and Glenice (Rustand) Bratlie. He grew up and attended school in Lake Park, Fosston, and Moorhead, MN, graduating from Moorhead High School in 1966. He went on to attend and graduate from Concordia College in Moorhead. He also later obtained Master’s degrees in Education and in Counseling Psychology.

A kindergarten and elementary school teacher for over 20 years, Mark began his work at the Turtle Mountain Community Schools and Ojibway Indian School in Belcourt, ND. Later in life, in Washington State, he served as an alternative high school counselor/teacher. Mark’s last work in education was as a GED instructor at Washington State Correctional Facility. Mark’s defining comment about his arc from teaching kindergarten kids to teaching men in prison was: “I was always hoping that one of the men wouldn’t say, ‘Oh, Mr. Bratlie, I remember you! You were my kindergarten teacher’.”

In his spare time, Mark became well known as a stained-glass artist, creating well over 200 panels for businesses, homes, and churches in Washington, Minnesota, and points beyond. He considered his signature work to be the forty-plus panels he did for Faith Lutheran Church in Staples, MN. Throughout his work and retirement years Mark remained politically active, writing opinion pieces and letters to the editor. His contemporary poetry ranged from the political to the quirky to the romantic.  Mark was also an avid banjo and harmonica musician.

Early in Mark’s life, he had been married and divorced twice, to Jean Black and to Virginia Barrett. Then, in a surprising turn of events, he and long-time friend from days at Concordia, Jean Anderson, took their relationship to a new and happier level.  They were married in 2009.  Of that day, Mark said, “Best day ever!”

Mark is survived by his wife, Jean Anderson, Fargo, ND; brothers, Dave (Sharon) Bratlie, Pelican Rapids, MN, and Stephen (Cindy) Bratlie, Tucson, AZ; sisters Astrid (Jim) Crichton, Helena, MT, Kirsten “Cookie” (John) Peterson, Hendersonville, NC, Karin (Tom) Cannon, Helena, MT, Maren (Mohsen) Nasseri, Sacramento, CA; brother-in-law, Steve Gross, Boise, ID; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Otto and Glenice Bratlie; sisters, Solveig Misner, and Margaret Gross; and by two brothers-in-law, John Misner and Leigh Wold.

Memorials can be sent to Memory Cafe of the Red River Valley, Beehive Homes of Moorhead, or Hospice of the Red River Valley. The family requests the wearing of masks while indoors at the following ceremonies:

Visitation: Thursday, June 23, 2022, from 4:30-5:30 p.m. with a prayer service at 5:30 p.m. in Wright Funeral Home, Moorhead, MN.

Celebration of Life: Friday, June 24, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. with visitation one hour before the service in First United Methodist Church, Fargo, ND.

Interment: Clara Cemetery, Comstock, MN.

Video tribute, online guestbook, and livestream of the Celebration of Life on Mark’s obituary page at www.wrightfuneral.com.

Through the heartfelt mercies of our God,

God’s sunrise will break in upon us,

Shining on those in the darkness,

Those sitting in the shadow of death,

Then showing us the way, one foot at a time

Down the path of peace.

      Luke 1:79, The Message