Pastor Mark R. Guthmiller

Pastor Mark Roman Guthmiller of Watertown, SD was called home by his Lord and Savior on Monday, December 8, 2025 at 70 years of age after a 5 1/2 year battle with metastatic prostate cancer.  A Christian Funeral Service will be held at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Aberdeen, SD, on Friday, December 19, 2025 at 1:30 p.m.  The service will be live streamed on Trinity’s You Tube channel:  https://www.youtube.com/@TrinityAberdeen/streams

Visitation will be held at Great Plains Lutheran High School Auditorium, in Watertown, SD, on Thursday, December 18, 2025 from 5 to 7 p.m. and prior to services at the church on Friday. 

Interment will be at Sunset Memorial Gardens, Aberdeen SD.  Everyone is welcome to stay for fellowship and reminiscing with the family when they return from the cemetery.

He was born on Sunday, October 30, 1955, in Quinn, SD, (his dad was working on the I-90 road construction project) to Roman and Ramona nee Beck Guthmiller.  He was baptized at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Roscoe, SD, on November 27, 1955, by Pastor Scheutze.  He was confirmed in the faith at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, Aberdeen, SD, on May 25, 1969, by Pastor Wayne Schulz.  His confirmation verse is Hebrews 13:5.

He attended Henry Neil Elementary and Simmons Junior High in Aberdeen, SD.  His high school years he spent at Northwestern Lutheran Academy in Mobridge, SD, where he was in the pastor track of learning.  He graduated from high school in 1973.  He continued his pastoral training at Northwestern Lutheran College in Watertown, WI, graduating in 1977.  From there, he went on to Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Seminary in Mequon, WI, to finish training as a pastor.  His vicar year found him serving/interning at Resurrection Evangelical Lutheran Church on Howard Avenue in Milwaukee, WI.  It was during vicar year that he was united in marriage to Linda Ross on July 5, 1980, at St. Matthew’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Winona, MN.  He finished his training at the seminary and graduated in May of 1981.  He was first called to serve at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Helen Township, rural Glencoe, MN.  He served there until September of 1999 when he moved 3 hours west on Highway 212 to serve at Peace Evangelical Lutheran Church in Clark, SD, and Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church in Raymond, SD.  He began serving a third congregation Willow Lake Evangelical Lutheran Church in Willow Lake, SD, full time in March of 2002.  He retired December 31, 2014. 

In retirement, he served at various congregations in the area as fill in for the pastor.  He also served as vacancy pastor for Peace Evangelical Lutheran Church, Milbank, SD, and St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Mazeppa Township, Summit, SD, for about 10 months.

The marriage was blessed with four children: Rachel, Rebecca, Daniel, and James. 

When he had time, he enjoyed getting out and enjoying the outdoors helping several farmers in his congregations.  He could drive red and green machinery, though red was his preferred color.  Mark enjoyed coaching and watching his children and now his grandchildren participate in their sports and fine arts events. He also enjoyed his many volunteer activities at Great Plains Lutheran High School in Watertown, SD. 

Survivors include his wife of 45 years, Linda; children: Rachel (Darin) Duvall, of Aberdeen SD, Rebecca (Matthew) Biegler, of Aberdeen SD, and Daniel (Amber) Guthmiller, of Watertown SD; his mother, Ramona Guthmiller, of Aberdeen SD; mother-in-law, Jane Ross of Winona, MN; siblings, Peg (Dale) Martens, of Aberdeen SD, Ronald Guthmiller, of Aberdeen SD, and Katherine Cooper, of Maricopa AZ; sisters and brothers–in–law, Cindy (Chris) Foerster of Milwaukee, WI, Dale (Jody) Ross, of Edina MN, and John (Teresa) Ross, of Glencoe MN; grandchildren: Dylan (Tiffany), Noah, Isaiah and Abigail Duvall, Maddilyn, Levi and Lucas Biegler, Calvin and Willow Guthmiller; great-grandson, Drake Duvall; and numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews and other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents; Fred and Katherine (Katie) Beck, Ludwig and Katherine Guthmiller; father-in-law Richard Ross; father Roman Guthmiller; stillborn son James; and aunts and uncles.

Memorials in lieu of flowers may be directed to Great Plains Lutheran High School, Watertown SD or Trinity Lutheran Church and School, Aberdeen SD if you so desire.

Arrangements by Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel www.crawfordosthus.com Watertown and Hayti

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