Mark Thomas FitzSimmons was born on August 8, 1961 in Glendive to Tom and Ruth Olson FitzSimmons. Mark passed away on October 26, 2023 at his home in Billings.
His family moved to Spokane when he was 3 years old. He started school there. In 1972 his family moved to Sidney. He went to school in Sidney. Then he started working with his uncles Milton Schlenker and Robert Olson surveying. When he was 18 years old, he was a passenger in a car accident and became a quadriplegic.
When he was 21 years old, he accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior when Milo took Mark’s family to the Billy Graham crusade in Spokane. He lived a life of joy and contentment despite his injury. Mark got his GED in April 1989.
Mark lived in Billings the past 34 years. Mark enjoyed visits from family and friends when they could stop by. Mark said he lived at North Park in the summer reading his and he befriended people who needed someone to listen to them. He had his own little ministry. He enjoyed playing chess and watching sports on TV and Christian programs.
Mark felt for little children who were sick with cancer or other illness. In later years he would tell his mom how he was so glad he got to run and play when he was a kid. He said his life was like “Leave it to Beaver”. He said his mom was his best friend. His sister said he was fiercely independent. He had his own apartment and sometimes very little help. He liked it that way.
Mark is survived by his mother Ruth (Milo) Borg, sister Christine (Dan) Leary, nephew Brad Leary, niece Kayla Leary, six aunts, four uncles, numerous cousins.
Mark was preceded in death by his dad Tom, grandparents Max and Grace FitzSimmons, Lawrence and Ann Olson, numerous aunts, uncles and a few cousins.
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