Mark Vern Thiel

Mark Vern Thiel was born in Billings on March 10, 1970, to Larry and Marlene Thiel. He died in his home on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2015.

He is survived by his parents, Larry and Marlene (Gehring) Thiel of Laurel; brothers Shawn (Michelle) Thiel of Billings, Corey (Jena) Thiel of Laurel; nephew Kyle Thiel and niece Kyra Thiel of Billings; his wife, Judy (Hartman) Thiel of Billings; aunts Sharon (Bob) Christie, Bonnie Thiel of Billings, Judy Moore of Hermiston, Ore.; and uncle Albert (Cheryl) Gehring of Billings. He is also survived by numerous cousins. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Vernie and Katherine Thiel, Ann Gehring; his uncles, Clyde, Jerry, Wayne Kopp, Ronnie Gehring and Delbert Gehring; and aunt Emma Kopp.

Mark graduated from Laurel High School in 1988. He worked for Magic Carpet RV Center on weekends and summers while still in school, going to work for them full time after graduation. Mark was an excellent RV tech and always treated the customers well and was well liked in return. Think they call that "respect for your fellow man." He worked there for several years before going to work for Tour America RV and then for Metra RV, where he worked until approximately five years before his death on Sunday.

Mark enjoyed hunting, and had the best luck with the big game drawings and getting his animal. He got two buffalo, mountain goat, Rocky Mountain Sheep and a wild pig that he got in Arizona. He also liked to go out target shooting. He never really learned to like fishing very well. However, I (Mom) can recall once that we went fishing in Spring Creek and his brother Shawn caught a fish which was not one to brag about. We put it on a stringer and Mark dragged it around, stuffing rocks down its mouth. That fish must have weighed 10 lbs. before we left for home. Shawn and Mark were only about 5 and 6 years old at that time.

Mark was a warm-hearted person with a heart of gold. I don't think he ever knew a stranger. It seems everyone he met was a friend. If you were a good friend to Mark, you were his friend for life. If you were anywhere with Mark and he had a dollar, everybody had a dollar. He was definitely not a selfish person. He went with his wife and friends to Vegas to the NASCAR races and enjoyed the sounds and lights of Vegas.

He will be greatly missed by his family and friends. Eventually, we will tuck him in a warm corner in our hearts and remember him and smile. For now, the tears will flow, but I make one request. If you love someone - be it husband, wife, child or whomever - please tell them you love them while you still can. Life is too short sometimes.

Rest in peace, Mark. We love you still.

Visitation will be from 3 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 1, at Michelotti-Sawyers Mortuary, 1001 Alderson Ave. Services will be 1 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2, at Michelotti-Sawyers Mortuary. Interment will be in Sunset Memorial Gardens.