Mark Richard Cronquist
Army SPC
From: Columbia Falls, Flathead County
Date of Death: 3/9/1991
Conflict: Operation Desert Storm
A tight-knit community was left devastated on Tuesday as they gathered at St. Richard’s Catholic Church in Columbia Falls to mourn the loss of soldier Mark Cronquist. The 21-year-old was tragically killed on March 9 in a gunfire accident in Saudi Arabia, just days before his birthday. Cronquist had been a member of the local 651st Quartermaster Co. of the Army Reserve, which was activated last November, and had landed in Saudi Arabia in January. Prior to his deployment, he worked for Klingler Lumber Co. in Kalispell. During the ceremony, mourners offered prayers for Cronquist, his friends and family, and the young soldier who accidentally shot him while cleaning his rifle in the unit’s barracks.
The ceremony combined the traditional Catholic Mass of the Resurrection and military honors, reflecting the deep loss felt by all. Speaking at the service, Rev. Patrick McGurk compared Cronquist’s sudden death to an electrical blackout, where one minute everything is bright and sunny, and the next, the world is plunged into darkness. He urged the congregation to find solace in the light of Christ during this difficult time. McGurk also spoke of Cronquist’s love for life and the excitement he brought to those around him, leaving a lasting impact on all who knew him. Following the Mass, the congregation gathered outside for a final farewell to Cronquist. His rodeo colleagues paid their respects by placing their hats over their hearts, while a military unit offered a poignant salute. The 379th Engineer Co. of the Army Reserve then carefully folded the flags draped over Cronquist’s casket and presented them to his family. As the only Montana soldier to die on duty in the Gulf, Cronquist’s loss is deeply felt by his community and all those who knew him.
