Mark King

Mark was born in St. Paul Minnesota and grew up on his family’s resort Log Cabin Hollow on Big Yellow Lake in Webster Wisconsin.  He graduated from Webster Senior High and moved to Minneapolis to begin his successful career with Northwestern Bell and AT&T.  

New Years Eve December 31^st 1979, at The Y’all Come Back Saloon in downtown Minneapolis, Dan Lien asked him for a dance at 11:40 p.m. and they danced nonstop to welcome 1980.  From that night on, they lived together and never parted, as they both knew they’d met their true love and soul mate. Music and dancing were their life-long joys. 

Mark and Dan bought their first home together in May, 1980.  In 1984, Mark’s career took them to Southern California for a new life filled with opportunities and adventures.  After a brief career move to Colorado, they returned to California and found community in Monrovia, Pasadena and 1993 bought their second home in Duarte. In 2002, they purchased their final and life-long home, Terra la Vita Bella, in Bradbury, a rural setting with abundant wildlife which both Mark and Dan loved to watch every day. In every home, Mark and Dan worked side by side remodeling the home to represent their lives together. They often opened their homes for large gatherings with their great friends. 

For more than 30 years they spent summer vacations with their boat on Clear Lake in Lake County, California where they were blessed with a large group of friends.  Mark was an avid water skier and enjoyed sharing their lake vacations with friends from across the state, treating them to countless hours of water skiing and tubing. They traveled extensively every year.  Their mutual love of travel included more than 70 cruises, adventuring to Mexico, Central America, South America, Panama Canal, Caribbean, Bahamas and Grand Cayman.   

Mark and Dan supported and were active in many charities over the years. Mark joined Dan at Hill Avenue Grace Lutheran Church, with friends they led Ministries of Love, benefiting less fortunate individuals and families. Mark had a passion for organizing fund raising events and helped raise thousands of dollars to make a difference for many in need.  Mark and Dan shared a passion and love for animals, cherishing all of their pets as family.  

During his retirement. Mark worked part time in the office of Morralito Mexican Grill and Cantina in Duarte, Mark and Dan’s go-to spot since 1993. Mark loved the Rivera Brothers (owners) and the many customers he befriended during his time there. 

During the summer of 2023 Mark and Dan lived on the shore of Clear Lake in their dear friend’s guesthouse with their boat parked out front. They enjoyed the lake, friends at The Boathouse and trips to the Redwoods and the coast.  Mark said that God blessed him with the best summer of his life.

Mark departed to be with God following the traditional weekly family dinner on Sunday May 5^th surrounded by loving and cherished Family Bob, Jill, Tom, Elaine and Teresa.   

His faith in God, love of music, dancing, animals, family and friends will live on in the many lives he touched. 

Mark is preceded in death by his parents Milt & Cec King, brothers Daniel, Ronald and Wayne, in-laws Selvin & Carolyn Lien, 1 niece and 1 nephew. He is survived by his true love and soul mate Daniel J. Lien and Bandit, his sisters: Virginia King, Linda Surface and Brenda King-Pinc, his brother in-law David (Kathy) Lien, ten nieces and nephews and a host of great and great-great nieces and nephews. 

The public celebration of Mark’s life will be held on his birthday, November 2, 2024 at Morralito Mexican Grill & Cantina (details to follow at a later date).

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Mark’s name to San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity 724 E. Huntington Dr. Monrovia, CA  91016 or a charity of your choice.