Chaplain Colonel Mark Floyd Breinholt Obituary (1943

Chaplain Colonel Mark Floyd Breinholt, 80, of Provo, UT, passed away on June 12, 2023. He passed away peacefully in Salt Lake City, Utah, surrounded by his family. Mark was born in Provo, Utah, to Tess E. Tidwell and Floyd Emil Breinholt. He grew up with his sisters, Karen, Mace, and Lesa. After the death of his mother when he was a young adult, his family expanded to include Claudia Y. Duerden, and her sons, Greg, David, Rick, and Scott. In his early years he played baseball, the trumpet, and threw the perfect snowball. He was Junior Class President and Student Body President at Provo High School. In college he sang with the Men’s Chorus and performed with the International Folk Dance Ensemble. He served a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Central States Mission. Mark graduated with a bachelor’s degree in history and English, and later, a Master of Education Administration from Brigham Young University. He took classes in education and counseling from Arizona State University. He attended the University of Virginia to earn an Education Specialist degree in ethics and philosophy with a follow-on assignment to teach at the Command and General Staff College in Leavenworth, KS. Mark met Susan Kay Peterson in Provo, UT and was smitten by her beautiful smile. They married in the Manti Temple, had eight children, and recently celebrated their 56th wedding anniversary. Mark and Susan have been perfect companions for each other. What they did, they did together. Mark started his career as an infantry officer in the Vietnam War. After the war he left the army and taught seminary for 4 years in Kearns, UT, and Mesa, AZ. He then returned to military service as a chaplain in the United States Army. He and his family traveled across the world together, moving 21 times in 35 years and living overseas in Korea and Germany. During his military service he became an Airborne Ranger. He made 63 jumps (out of perfectly good airplanes). He graduated from Ranger school at age 34 as an honors graduate. He chose to become a Ranger so he could connect with the soldiers he would serve as a Chaplain. He found it important to live with the soldiers and interact with them in their day-to-day requirements and routines. He often ran and called cadence with multiple platoons, amassing many miles in his army boots. Mark and Susan had many periods of separation as he went on field exercises and deployments. Mark went to war again during the Gulf War. Even when physically separated, Mark and Susan always worked as a team. The military lifestyle with their large family was a joyous experience for them and their children, and they made many friends everywhere they went. Mark diligently served God, family, country, and his fellow men. After he retired as a Colonel in the Army, Mark continued to serve others as a mission president for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the New York Rochester Mission. Mark and Susan returned to Provo, UT, where he worked as a chaplain for hospice. Among his church positions he served in a bishopric, in a stake presidency, as a regional representative for the serviceman stakes in Germany, in the Provo MTC mission presidency for 4 years, and as Patriarch in the Oak Hills Stake in Provo, UT where he gave over 400 patriarchal blessings. He most recently served as a temple worker in the Provo, UT Temple. Mark was a humble, kind, obedient, faithful, and honest man. He was a leader with a gentle touch who gained the respect of all those with whom he came in contact. He served and taught with love. He immersed himself in lifelong gospel study and application. He had a fun and fulfilling life. He was a loyal BYU fan, known to wake his kids up on a Saturday morning by singing the BYU Cougar Fight Song. He enjoyed taco salad and carrot cake with raisins. He is survived by his wife Susan; sisters Mace (Craig Rich) and Lesa (Steve Udall); his stepbrothers Greg Duerden (Judy), David Duerden, Rick Duerden (Cheryl), Scott Duerden (Carolyn); his 8 children: Brad (Donalee), Stephen (Stephanie), Chuck (Kim), Emily (Ben Williams), Aimee, Ken (Allison), Rebecca (Dan Barnhurst), Elizabeth (Kent Detrick); 34 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, June 17, 2023 at 11:00 am. The funeral will be preceded by a viewing from 9:30 am to 10:30 am. These services will be held at the Provo Oak Hills Stake Center located at 925 E North Temple Drive, Provo, UT. Condolences may be extended at www.bergmortuary.com. Virtual Link (Live Only): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9_UvhltBTo