Mark M. Chaffee

Mark Monroe Chaffee, 84, of Fargo, ND, passed away peacefully with family by his side Sunday, November 13, 2022, at Sanford Health-West Campus, Fargo.

Mark Monroe Chaffee was born July 8, 1938, in Perham, MN, the son of Gordon and Lenora (Mistelske) Chaffee.  He was raised in Frazee, MN, and moved with his family as a Junior in high school to Crookston, MN.  He graduated from Crookston High School in 1956, as Valedictorian.  Mark was active in football, basketball, and track and held the Frazee pole vault record for many years.  After graduation, he joined the U.S. Air Force serving in Korea before being honorably discharged in 1961.

On March 3, 1962, he was united in marriage to Jean Newsham in Lincoln, NE.  They made their home in Crookston, where Mark worked for American Crystal Sugar as a laborer before becoming Services Superintendent.  In 1979, he was transferred to the Moorhead Plant where he worked as the Services Superintendent.  He then went to work at Palliser Furniture Manufacturing in Fargo as their Warehouse and Shipping Manager.  In 1991, he was transferred to the Palliser Plant in Statesville, NC, where he served in the same position.  Mark and Jean moved back to Fargo in 1995 and in 1996 he began working at Solid Comfort in Fargo as a Human Resource Manager until retiring in 2010.  After retirement, they enjoyed traveling, attending many special events, spending time with family, cheering on the grandkids, and took a trip of a lifetime to Israel in 2015. 

Mark loved and enjoyed his family and was always there supporting his children’s and grandchildren’s events and sports throughout the years.  He was also very active, including playing first base for the exceptional Crookston Eagles fastpitch softball team when he was a young man.

He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Jean; children, Lora (Tim) Mayclin, El Mirage, AZ, Lee Chaffee, Fargo, and Pastor Kurt (Lisa) Chaffee, Bismarck, ND; grandchildren, Stephanie (Tony) Rolen, Brittany Mayclin, Aaron Richards, Kameren Johnson, Karlee (Michael) Epperson, Naomi Chaffee, Evan Chaffee, Emilie Chaffee and Eli Chaffee; great-grandchildren, Brayden Mayclin-Gregory and Rivington Rolen; sister, Margie (Les) Molskness; sister-in-law, Carol Chaffee; and his nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Gordon and Lenora “Nanny”; daughter, Konnie Chaffee; and brother, Randy Chaffee; and great-granddaughter, Wrenley May Rolen.

A Gathering of Family and Friends for Mark will be on Friday, from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM, at Korsmo Funeral and Cremation Service, Moorhead.

A Celebration of Mark’s Life will be 11 AM, Saturday, November 19, 2022, at Bethel Evangelical Free Church, Fargo with a Gathering of Friends one hour prior to the Celebration.  Following the Celebration, please join the family for a time of lunch and fellowship.

Burial with Military Honors will take place at Riverside Cemetery, Fargo.  

If you are unable to join Mark’s family for his Celebration of Life, the service will be Live-streamed and the link can be found below the obituary on his memorial page on our website.

(Korsmo Funeral and Cremation Service, Moorhead, MN)