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Mark Douglas Jonson was found dead in a home on 15th Avenue and 100th Street on July 5. (Tyler Marr/battlefordsNOW Staff)
REMEMBERING MARK

Dozens gather to remember man whose death police are investigating as suspicious

Jul 12, 2019 | 5:00 PM

A hard-working man, full of ideas, who loved to talk and generally loved people.

That is how friends and family remember Mark Douglas Jonson.

The 61-year-old was found dead in a home on 15th Avenue and 100th Street on July 5.

Mark’s sister Lynette Jonson recalled many memories of her brother at a memorial service held Friday at the Battleford’s Indian and Métis Friendship Centre.

Growing up on a farm in Alberta, she said Mark was a hard-working man who struck people in a memorable and engaging way.

She remembered doing Mark’s math homework for him while she was in Grade 8 and he, Grade 10.

“He hated math,” she said with a laugh. “And loved to talk and talk.”

Edna Moosomin-Baker is the Intake Worker for the Reaching Homes program offered through the centre. She started in her position last year and quickly met Mark.

Each month, Moosomin-Baker put together a calendar of events and classes being offered and she said Mark was always the first to ask her when it would be done and what was going on.

“He joined everything,” she said. “The cooking class, everything. He even joined the cultural activities, the sweat and all those things.”

She said Mark was always busy and loved hanging out at the centre and telling people what events were going on and encouraged others to join.

His death, she said, came as a shock to the staff at the centre. It brought her and others joy to see so many people, including his sisters, come together to remember him.

“He made a lot of friends on the streets and a lot of them miss him so much. He touched everyone,” she said. “I also hope this is a learning thing for the street people [so they can see] that no matter what, their family is there and they are our family as well.”

Police continue to investigate Mark’s death as suspicious.

tyler.marr@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @JournoMarr