Mark Todd Lufkins Sr.

Mark Todd Lufkins, Sr., 45 of Warwick, ND, died on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2009, at Trinity Medical Center, Minot, ND. A wake and prayer service will be held at the Woodlake Community Center, Tokio, ND, on Friday, Oct. 2 beginning at 5 p.m. The procession to Woodlake Community Center will leave at 4 p.m. on Friday from WalMart parking lot in Devils Lake. Funeral services for Mark will be held at the Woodlake Community Center on Saturday at 11 a.m. Pastor Kevin Kaufmann and Rev. Enright Big Horn will officiate and burial will be in the Bdecan Presbyterian Cemetery, rural Tokio, ND. Serving as first active casket bearers for Mark will be Archie Adam Redfox, Archie Redfox III, Steve Redfox, Brandon Tikayne, Kenny Lohnes, and David Redfox; Second active casket bearers will be Luke Georgeson, Matt Georgeson, Clint Georgeson, Randy Tikayne, Mahlan Å gMashÅ h Redfox, Sr., Trevor McDonald, Hunter Lufkins, Mark Lufkins Jr., Diego Lufkins. Honorary pallbearers are Carl Walking Eagle and family, Noreen (Darrel) Cavanaugh, Peggy L. Cavanaugh and family, Dorothea Å gChicoÅ h Olson and family, Carl Merrick and family, Hunter Parisien, Curtis (Kristi) Black and family, Perry (Joannie) Cavanaugh and family, Rock Baer and family, Roger, Kenny, and Bobby Baker and their families, Terry Smith and family, Kenny Lohnes and family, Philip Å gScooterÅ h Lohnes and family, Russell (Debbie) Brown, Josie Lawrence and family, Claude, Bennet, Billy and Scott Black, Joe Sherman and family, Wanda Å gAnnieÅ h Jackson and family, Vivian Jetty, Mark and Marlys Jetty, Roger Yankton and family, Bob and Ada Lower, Bonnie Leftbear and family, Sheila Thompson and family, Michael Å gBuggsÅ h Thompson, Jr. and family, Joy Yankton and family, Lois Leben and family, Dennis Corbine and family, Jeanette Herald and family, Ron Hunt and family, Glenn Poitra and family, Dennis and Rick Smith, Duane and Robin Smith, Vincent and Belva Greyhorn and family, Sharon and Terry Å gPicklesÅ h Walters, Nan Forrest, Lee English and family, Cheryl Hunt, Cliff Reeves, Loretta and Paul Stensland and family, Inez Greene and family, Wade Rierson, Gail Miller, Paul and Robin Lawrence, Barbara and Burton Jackson, Andy Demarce, Jr., Soloman Leftbear, Cheryl (Blake) Azure, Warwick School staff, The Spirit Lake Casino and Resort Gaming Commission, Janifer Jensen and family, Angie Rixen-Chaplain of Trinity Hospital, Dr. Lammashane of Trinity Hospital. Past and present Spirit Lake Tribal Councils, past and present Standing Rock Tribal Councils, past and present Three Affiliated Tribal Councils, and past and present Sisseton-Wahpeton Tribal Councils and past and present Turtle Mountain Tribal Councils. All MarkÅ fs colleagues with whom he has served membership with on local, regional, and national commissions and boards. Please forgive us if any names were missed. It was not intentional and we ask your understanding as we make our way through this very difficult time. Music will be provided by the Rhythm Riders, the Stensland family and the Inez Greene family. Anyone is welcome to come and share their music with the family and friends of Mark. Mark was born on February 2, 1964 at New Rockford, ND the son of Joe Lufkins and Sharon Redfox. Mark attended Warwick Public School in Warwick, ND. He was a member of the Bdecan Presbyterian Church. On Sept. 25, 1998 he married Deanna Hunt in Las Vegas, NV, and has four children, Hunter Albin Lufkins, Mark Todd Lufkins Jr., Diego Jerome Lufkins and adopted son, Trevor McDonald. Mark and Deanna made their home in the Woodlake District where he lived his entire life. Mark's hobbies include spending time hunting and fishing. His skills were appreciated by the elders and members of his district where he shared his fish and game often distributing it to them. He also enjoyed watching football and was an avid Vikings fan. Mark also enjoyed the game of basketball, pro and high school and always cheered for the Warwick teams. In 1995, Mark was sworn in as Tribal Council Representative for the Woodlake/Tokio District of the Spirit Lake Nation. He served in the Spirit Lake Tribal Government for three consecutive four-year terms. During the onset of his fourth term of office he became ill. While in office he always had his door open to anyone who needed to talk or to help anyone in any way he could. He always fought for the district community recreation center and the local food pantry as part of his district efforts. While serving as a Tribal Council member, Mark served as a representing member of the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), National Indian Gaming Association, active board member of the Great Plains Indian Gaming Association, an active member of the Spirit Lake Gaming Commission, and board member of the Sioux Manufacturing Corporation. As part of his contributing passions he dedicated his governmental work to the areas of Indian Gaming, Health, and Tribal Economic Development. During his terms in tribal government, he was one of the founding instrumental advocates for the initiation of gaming in Indian Country. Mark had great dreams for Tribal Economic Development and stressed the importance for our tribe to seek and reach our potential in this area of development on behalf of our people and future. He stated "Our people need to be aware of the importance of business development, as that is the future we need in order to help our people." For the entire tenure of his tribal council service he was the Health Monitor of all health programming for the Spirit Lake Tribe and monitored other tribal programs as delegated. He represented the health interests of the tribe as a member of the Aberdeen Area Tribal Chairman's Health Board and at many national health meetings. His work, guidance, advocacy and support in the area of health will be greatly missed. The example he set in respect, humility and the strength he gave to achieve meeting the needs of our people of Spirit Lake Nation will help us to continue to strive in his memory. He is survived by his loving family; wife, Deanna Lufkins, children, Hunter Lufkins, Mark Lufkins, Jr., Diego Lufkins, and Trevor McDonald; father, Joe Lufkins of Sioux Falls, SD; mother, Sharon and Albin Georgeson of Tokio, ND; brothers and sisters: Matt (Tina) Georgeson-Luke Georgeson, Clint Georgeson, Yvonne Georgeson, Lisa (Ty) Georgeson, Jessica Lufkins and Jolene Lufkins; godchild, Marissa Redfox; grandmother, Mary Hill; aunts, Annie Redfox, Alberta Redfox, Kay Redfox, Sally Paul, Louella Paul, Geraldine Redfox, Hilda (Louie) Garcia; uncles, Archie Redfox, Jr., Cecil Longie and Carl Lufkins; many aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews, cousins and grandparents also survive. Mark was preceded in death by his grandparents, Archie and Gertrude Redfox and Ida Lufkins; aunts, Joan Redfox, and Miriam Redfox; uncle, Robert Å gBobÅ h Redfox; cousins, Klo Redfox, Jeremy Redfox, Marion Å gMedÅ h Redfox, Micheal Meade, Thomas Tikayne and other dear family members.