Born in St. Cloud, Minnesota, to Henry and Marilyn, Mark is the oldest of five. In high school he was drum and bugle corps, and played the French horn and the mellophone. He met Lauri on New Year's Eve, at her birthday party. They left St. Cloud for Brainerd fifteen years ago, where Lauri is an RN/Case Manager for the VA Clinic. Mark always wanted to be an astronaut, and since he hasn't grown up yet, he figures he still has a shot.