Torrington, WY (Colyer Funeral Home) October 30, 2023 —
Funeral services for LOIS ANN VAN MARK, 66, will be held at 2pm Thursday, November 2, 2023 at North Hills Baptist Church in Lingle, with Pastor David Anderson officiating. Burial will follow in the Valley View Cemetery in Torrington. Lois died October 27, 2023 at Banner Community Hospital in Torrington. The casket will be closed. Memorials may be given to Valley Christian School. Arrangements are by the Colyer Funeral Home and condolences may be sent to www.colyerfuneralhome.com.
Lois was a fourth generation Goshen County resident. Her Van Mark great grandparents homesteaded south of Torrington where the family still farms and her Benzel grandparents homesteaded in the Table Mountain area. She was born November 1, 1956 to Jack Bill and Hanna June (Benzel) Van Mark. She attended Goshen County schools until she and her family moved to the Washington DC area in 1974. After graduating from Springfield High School in Silver Spring, Maryland in 1975, she attended Bethel University in St. Paul, Minnesota, graduating in 1982 with a BA in Fine Arts. She did additional study at Hawk Eye Tech in Graphic Design and the University of Wyoming in Political Science.
Lois managed the family farm south of town. Additionally, served as President of the Goshen County Farm Bureau and Wyoming Wheat Growers. She was appointed, then elected to the Torrington City Council and elected as a Goshen County Commissioner. While a County Commissioner she famously said to the road and bridge guys-always grade/plow my road last.
Governor Mead appointed her to the Wyoming Wheat Commission where she served as Chairman and represented Wyoming on the Board of Directors of US Wheat Associates. Because of her work with US Wheat Associates she worked to promote purchase of US wheat to foreign buyers by hosting international visitors to Goshen County and traveling abroad to see for herself their unique requirements.
A lifelong Republican she was Chairman of the Goshen County Republican Party and President of the Goshen County Republican Women. She spent many hours in the Republican booth during fair week popping popcorn and talking politics with anyone wanting to visit.
During the George W. Bush Administration and the Donald J. Trump Administration she was appointed as the Executive Director of the USDA Farm Services Administration.
Lois was preceded in death by her parents Jack and Hanna (Benzel) Van Mark. She is survived by her sisters Ruth Van Mark, Deb (Anthony) Wendtland, and Jackie Van Mark; nephews Kit Wendtland, Taylor (Gabby Moore) Wendtland and Gabriel Sweeney.
