Mark Warren Pankonin

Mark Pankonin age 55, of Lamberton, MN passed away on March 25, 2024, at his home.

Visitation will be on Friday, March 29, 2024 from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm at the United Methodist Church, Lamberton, MN and will continue on Saturday from 9:30 am until 10:30 am at the United Methodist Church. Service will be held at the United Methodist Church, on Saturday, March 30, 2024 at 10:30 am. The clergy will be Pastor Cathy Hoffbeck. Interment will be at the Lamberton Cemetery .

Arrangements are with the Sturm Funeral Home in Lamberton, MN.  Online condolences may be left for the family at www.sturmfh.com.

Steadfast in faith, passionate in life, generous to others, devoted to his family, fun-loving and sunny in his energy and optimism, honest and deep-thinking in the way he carried on the family farm.  His loving smile filled any room he was in with warmth and made it brighter than before he arrived. He became even more humble and resilient in times of struggle, where he turned to Jesus and developed an unwavering faith in his Savior. Mark was a man of deep convictions, grit, and creativity.  Growing up in a household of five sisters probably had something to do with that!

After high school, Mark attended Alexandria Tech to hone his skills in diesel mechanics.  There he met his first wife, Jessica and they were blessed with 3 children. He came home on the weekends to relieve his mom from some of the cattle chores on their family farm. Two years later, he moved back home, into the house across the road from the farm and began work for a local mechanic and gravel company.  At the same time, he began feeding cattle with his dad.

For the guy who loved diesel trucks, it was no surprise, he had an eye and desire for a sharp, shiny Pete.  It only made sense he should buy his first Peterbilt semi and a used cattle trailer to start hauling the family’s cattle.  Today, if you’re driving down Hwy. 60 towards Dakota City, or I-90 west to MT, you’ve at one time or another, likely passed a beautiful, shiny Dry Creek truck, with a trailer lit-up to the 9’s. His fleet was his pride and joy! With experience and investment in many phases of the cattle business, he became a leader and influencer for the beef industry at the local and state levels, has represented MN on a trade trip to Japan in 2019, and was elected President of the MN Cattlemen's Association for 2023, he voluntarily resigned that position to focus on his health.

He was blessed with his parents, Warren and Maxine who gave him a foundation from which to build, and with children who are following in his footsteps.  His son Hunter has assumed a love of trucks like his dad, and has become involved in all aspects of the farm and feedlot. His daughters -  Bailey and Sydney can be found calving cows, driving feed trucks, choring and assisting whenever needed. He found the love of his life, greatest supporter, and best friend in his wife, Britni. They were married on December 29, 2023 in Tucson, AZ. Mark and Britni loved to travel and explored many destinations together.

Left to cherish his memory, his children - Bailey Pankonin, Hunter (Amanda) Pankonin and Sydney Pankonin; wife, Britni Pankonin and her children - Dalten, Kolten, and Lincoln; parents, Warren and Maxine (Rempel) Pankonin; siblings, Jackie (Rick) Bohn, Lori (Jim) Jones, Brenda (Kevin) Mobley, Tami (Jeff) Frank, Shari (Dan) Fuhr and many nieces and nephews. Mark was preceded in death by his grandparents, Walter and Florence Pankonin and Frank and Susie Rempel.

In lieu of flowers,  Mark’s  family plans to establish a scholarship fund to support students looking to grow in the agricultural industry.  If you wish to donate please contact  Bailey Pankonin at Baileypank13@gmail.com.  It will honor Mark to help those aspiring to follow their passion in the same industry he spent years supporting and building his life around.