Mark S. Goodenow, 68, of Spirit Lake, formerly of Marshall, Minnesota, passed
away on February 2, 2023 in Mesa, Arizona. A celebration of life will be held on
Saturday, June 10, 2023 at 1:00 pm in Epworth Hall at the Lake Okoboji United
Methodist Camp & Retreat Center in the Monarch Cove community of Spirit Lake.
Mark was the son of the late Bruce and Patricia (Hollister) Goodenow on April 28
in Sioux City, Iowa. He grew up on a farm outside of Battle Creek, Iowa. He
graduated from Morningside College with his undergraduate degree and Drake
University earning his MBA and juris doctorate degrees. He began his career as a
college professor in business law at South Dakota State University. In 1988, he
became part of the faculty at Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall,
MN. He served many roles including chair of the Business Administration
department and the university's faculty association during his 30 years there,
retiring in 2018. In 1994, Mark was elected to office in Marshall as a Lyon
County commissioner serving several terms until 2014. In this role, he
championed the Lyon County Developmental Achievement Center. Fellow
commissioners noted that he always had done his homework and was an advocate for
all in his role as commissioner. He was active in the Marshall community leading
efforts to build the current Marshall-Lyon County Library as well as serving on
the Marshall Area Fine Arts Council and the Lyon County Historical Society. Mark
developed a love for antiques early in life when his mom would take him to
auctions. His free time was filled with preserving history primarily through
careful restoration to historical accuracy of his long-time home in Marshall,
the William F. Gieseke House. He opened the house for tours and special events,
especially around Christmas. Mark could trace the genealogy of the family in
detail often serving as the go to identifier when family looked through old
pictures and artifacts. His home on West Lake Okoboji was a center point for
family gatherings over the years. He also enjoyed international travel with
friends. He is survived by brothers Mike (Rajaee) Goodenow of Orlando, FL and
nieces Stef and Kris Goodenow of Clemson, SC, Mase (Sheryl) Goodenow of Ida
Grove, IA and niece Maggie (Brian) Steinkamp and their children Avery, Carter
and Hudson of Breda, IA, and niece Abby (Beth Toomer) Goodenow of Britt, IA and
Mitch (Jennifer) Goodenow of Waukee, IA and niece Kelsey Goodenow of Waukee, IA
and nephew Alex Goodenow of Des Moines, IA. He was preceded in death by his
parents and beloved niece, Lauren "Rudy" Goodenow.