Robert Marcus “Mark” Oehling

Robert “Mark” Oehling, 82, of Dillon, went peacefully on February 11, 2024.

Born January 31, 1942, to William “Bill” and Anna (Stauduhar) Oehling at the family farmhouse in Nova,

OH. Mark was one of four children. Mark despised his first name of Robert, and always went by Mark,

and I bet many who are reading this are surprised. He became the top basketball player at Ruggles-Troy

High School in which he held multiple school and state records for many years. He married Beverly

Oehling in 1963 (divorced 1992) and they had two children, Scott and Randy. Mark and Bev remained

very close friends throughout their lives. After completing his trade school degree in Tool and Die, he

uprooted the family from Ohio in 1974 and moved to Dillon, Montana, where his grandfather, Marcus

Stauduhar, had homesteaded in Birch Creek decades before.

Becoming the manager of Sneed’s sporting goods, he became well known for his knowledge of hunting

and fishing. Hunting and fishing were a huge passion in his life. For over 30 years, he hunted the Lima

Peaks on horses every opening week of general hunting season. His love of hunting on horseback made

him well known for his knowledge of pack animals and chasing elk. Every moment he could, he took his

family out camping and exploring Beaverhead County in his beloved 1974 Ford F250, Ol’ Blue.

Mark went into business, on his own, fixing and repairing small engines for the people of Dillon. A true

genius at anything mechanical, especially small engines, everyone knew they could take it to Mark to get

it fixed. He later went from small engines to automotive repair and body work, then to own Mark’s Fast

Lube. After the famous Fast Lube fire of 2000, Mark turned his talents to making barnwood frames.

In 1992, a trailer home of caught fire behind his Mini Lube near the Lion’s Den. Without hesitation, he

jumped down the 8-foot retaining wall, busted the door into the smoke and fire filled trailer home, went

straight to Josh’s room and took Josh to safety just as the inferno engulfed the trailer home. He

received the Kiwanis International Robert P. Connolly Medal of heroism that year for risking his own life

without any fear for his own safety.

Mark became Dillon’s premier barnwood frame maker and had quite the talent for exquisite one-of-a-

kind barnwood frames. Hundreds were donated throughout the years to the RMEF, Ducks Unlimited,

and personal auctions for those in need. His interest and desire of community service started with him

joining the Dillon Volunteer Fire Department in 1974 for 26 years. He was an Exalted Ruler at the Elks

Lodge 1554, Kiwanis member, Masonic Lodge member, competitive bowler and a phenomenal softball

player (slow and fast pitch). You never wanted to be on first base when he was batting. If it was not a

home run, then you got a screamer of a ball hit towards you.

Christmas was his favorite time of year right after hunting season. Mark played Santa for many years for

the town of Dillon, many business parties, and homes of family and friends in the community. He was

famous for the outlandish light decorations outside his home during the holiday seasons. Mayor Warner

even proclaimed a day for Mark as “Mr. Christmas Day”.

Even though Mark was Dillon’s grumpiest old man, he had the largest golden heart filled with pudding.

Mark complained and was grumpier than a badger with a bad tooth ache, but there was a softer side for

anyone in need. He would do anything for anyone, give his own shirt off his back if you needed it. There

was a time he removed his wife’s engine from her car to replace a traveling family’s car engine that blew

up two days before Thanksgiving. He replaced the engine in under a day so the family would make it to

Boise for Thanksgiving. He was best known among his family and friends to “Oehling-Rig” stuff that had

broken. Duct tape, baling wire, screwdriver, hammer or even a rock, he could fix anything. If something

was broken, he could fix it, no matter what it was.

Mark was a great father. Sadly, he lost his oldest son, Scott (8), in 1974 from a freak playground accident

at Parkview Elementary School in which he never rebounded from. He put his whole heart and soul into

his son, Randy, and taught him everything he could about carpentry, mechanical, hunting, fishing, and

life in-general.

Mark was preceded in death by his parents William “Bill” and Anna (Stauduhar) Oehling; sister Betty

Oehling; and son Scott Oehling. He is survived by his son, Randy (Tracy) Oehling of Knoxville, TN/Dillon,

Mt; Grandchildren Ryan Oehling and Heather (DJ) Hart and one great-granddaughter Morgan; brothers

David (Shirley) Oehling of Ashland, Ohio and Ross (Barbara) Oehling of Red Haw, Ohio.

A celebration of his life, to joke and laugh of Mark’s antics will be held at Mac’s Last Cast sometime in

June 2024. There will be an announcement near the date and time.

In lieu of flowers or cards, just go and help someone who is in real need. At Christmas time, decorate the

outside of your home with tons of lights and crazy decorations. Go hunting and fishing and make up big

lies and exaggerate everything that happened.