Mark Walter

January 14, 2023

Mark Lane Walter passed away on January 2, 2023, at the age of 76.

Mark was born in Great Bend, KS on July 14, 1946. He joined a family with two brothers, Terry and Larry, and two sisters, Margaret and Linda.  Mark attended his early years of school in Tribune, KS.  In 1956 his parents moved to a ranch near Castle Rock, Colorado where he attended school and graduated from high school.  After high school he returned to the farmstead of Tribune, KS and attended a trade school in Goodland, KS from which he graduated.  He married Patricia Taylor on December 26, 1965.  They had six children while farming and living on a farmstead 21 miles northwest of Tribune, KS.  In 1980 the family of 8 moved to central Kansas.  Mark worked at Cessna Aircraft and sold cars at a Wichita car dealership while the family lived in Rosehill and then Derby, Kansas.  They moved to a farm in Kingman, Kansas in 1983.  Mark returned to farming for a few years. before becoming an over-the-road trucker for many years.  Mark moved to Garden City, KS where he returned to working with cattle.  During this time, he met Pam Pelton.  They married on September 3, 1994 in Cheyenne Wells, CO.  During his years in Cheyenne Wells Mark drove semi-trucks, farmed and worked for CDOT.
Mark always loved farming, cattle ranching, hunting and fishing.  Mark fondly recalled his years at the ranch in Castle Rock.  He learned to hunt and kept mounts of his first bobcat and wolf.  He was proud of the Angus cattle he raised on the farm near Tribune.  He worked hard and played hard.  While living near Tribune he and his family would often spend weekends at Bonnie Reservoir in Colorado.  He enjoyed driving his boat and water skiing.  For many years the family would join his brothers’ families in Aransas Pass, TX around Christmas time.  He really enjoyed going deep sea fishing when he wasn’t fishing on his own boat.  In the 1970s he earned his pilot’s license and purchased a plane for the farm.  He and his brother, Larry, would fly to Texas and bring back fresh seafood to sell in the area.  When he moved to central Kansas he continued to enjoy water skiing.  When he was an over-the-road trucker he enjoyed making jewelry with turquoise and beads during his down time.  During his later years he enjoyed searching for petrified wood and arrowheads.  He would often share these finds with his grandchildren.  
Mark enjoyed meeting new people.  He never met a stranger and always had stories to share.  His sense of humor was appreciated by many. Mark accepted Jesus as his Savior and spent numerous years in service at the Christian Church.  He will be missed by many.
He is survived by his wife, Pam Walter of the home; daughters, Robin (Allen) Ediger of Hillsboro, KS,  Wendy (Jimmy) Miller of Talbott, TN; sons, Monty (Crystal) Walter of Wichita, KS, Luke Walter of Kingman, KS, Justin (Kelli) Walter of Moore, OK and Daniel (Crystal) Walter of Wichita, KS; stepchildren, Keith (Lynda) Pelton and Cassie Turner of Cheyenne Wells, CO; 28 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and two sisters, Margaret Kuder of Weskan, KS and Linda Swygert of Wichita, KS and sister-in-law, Evelyn Walter of Florida.  He was especially close to his nephew, Mike Walter, who also survives.  They were so close in age that their relationship was more like brothers.  
Mark was preceded in death by his parents, Clifton and Helen Walter; and two brothers, Terry Walter and Larry Walter, brother-in-law, Lavern Kuder and sister-in-law, Alberta Walter. 
Funeral services were held on Monday, January 9, 2023 at the Cheyenne Wells Christian Church with Pastor Chris Lake officiating.  Burial followed in the Fairview Cemetery in Cheyenne Wells.  Memorial contributions can be made to the Mark Walter Memorial Fund in c/o ECB; Box 888; Cheyenne Wells, CO  80810.  Friends and family can register online condolences at www.brownfuneraldirectors.com. Visitation and funeral services were entrusted to the care of the Brown Funeral Home in Cheyenne Wells.