Mark Anthony Laplaunt

Mark Anthony LaPlaunt, born in Great Falls, Montana on January 20, 1952, passed away peacefully on October 15, 2019, at the age of 67. The son of Anthony Pierre LaPlaunt and Edna Mae Lineaweaver LaPlaunt was raised in Belt, Montana. Mark was an avid outdoorsman, particularly enjoying hunting and fishing. Mark married Kathleen Almanza on November 4, 1972. They raised their three children in Havre, Montana and returned to Great Falls in 2002. Mark was hired with the Burlington Northern Railroad in 1976, working as a traveling mechanic and was skilled in maintaining a wide variety of machines and equipment. Mark retired from BNSF after 36 years. He also enjoyed fly fishing, camping and sharing his knowledge and love of the outdoors with his grandchildren. He was devoted to his grandchildren and cherished the times and experiences that he had with each of them. Upon his retirement in 2012, he chose gunsmithing as one of his new hobbies (killing his elk last season with a rifle that he had made himself). Mark is survived by his loving wife of 46 years, Kathy LaPlaunt of Great Falls; sons, Brian (Kate) LaPlaunt of Fairbanks, AK, and Daniel LaPlaunt of Great Falls; daughter, Sarah (Ray) Cozino of Great Falls; four grandchildren, Rachel and Nathan LaPlaunt and Sophia and Lily Cozino; and many extended family members and friends. He was greatly loved and will be missed by all who knew him.