Mark Bratlie

Mark Bratlie, 74, Fargo, ND, passed peacefully from this earthly realm on 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.

A Celebration of Life will be held June 24 at 10:00 a.m. with visitation one hour before the service at First United Methodist Church, Fargo, ND. Visitation will be held Thurs., June 23 from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. with a prayer service at 5:30 p.m. at Wright Funeral Home, Moorhead. The family requests the wearing of masks while indoors at these ceremonies. 

Interment will be at Clara Cemetery, Comstock. 

Mark was born March 22, 1948, to Otto and Glenice (Rustand) Bratlie in Moorhead. He grew up and attended school in Lake Park, Fosston and Moorhead, graduating from Moorhead High School in 1966. He attended and graduated from Concordia College in Moorhead. He also later obtained Master’s degrees in Education and 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, he 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 40-plus panels he completed for Faith Lutheran Church in Staples. Throughout his work and retirement years he remained politically active, writing opinion pieces and letters to the editor. His contemporary poetry ranged from the political to the quirky to the romantic.  He 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 a long-time friend from days at Concordia, Jean Anderson, took their relationship to a new and happier level and were married in 2009. Of that day, Mark said, “Best day ever.”

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

He was preceded in death by his parents; two 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.

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