A longtime former Powell resident was honored as the Red Lodge Veteran of the Year at the town’s July 4 rodeo celebration for his service during World War II.

Mark D. Zupan died in 2010 in Powell after a storied life, which included surviving the deadly Smith Mine disaster in 1943 in Bearcreek, Montana — he was just outside the entrance when it collapsed and killed 73 miners. Zupan was inducted into the Army that same year.

He served in the Philippine Islands campaign in 1945 as a rifleman in the 161st Regiment, Company L, 25th Division. According to a history of his life written by his family, he received three Purple Hearts while in combat, the last one awarded from when he was shot in the leg by a sniper near Balete Pass on Luzon in May, 1945. He survived only by being dragged to safety from open ground by two friends who risked their own lives to rescue him. In 1992 Mark was reunited with his two rescuers and the special bond they had made for many good times remembering their war years.

Cpl. Zupan was also awarded the Combat Infantry Badge and, in 1967 and after 12 surgeries, the leg he was shot in was amputated, although that didn’t slow him down. He wound up attending business college, working at a bank in Red Lodge and then, his niece Janet Zupan said, after moving to Powell he sold insurance before retiring in 1980.

The Zupan family gathered in Mark’s hometown of Red Lodge to celebrate his recognition at the Home of the Champions Rodeo. Thirteen of his nieces and nephews rode in the parade and accepted the commemorative belt buckle during the rodeo ceremony on his behalf. The Veteran of the Year Program was initiated by Red Lodge native Rick Waples in 2025; with Zupan the second recipient.

Zupan married Marjorie (Teegarden) Tavegia in 1971 and they enjoyed 39 years together. Marge was an elementary teacher in Powell until 1984.

Mark enjoyed woodworking and gardening but everyone knew that his favorite activity was being grandpa to his beloved step-grandaughters. He loved sports and his true love was golf; he played as often as he could and played very well for many years with his artificial limb.

“Mark was a true hero to all who knew him,” his family history reads. “He never complained and his philosophy for life might well be summarized by a quote by another man who dealt with a tough break in life, Bobby Jones, the famous golfer, who said ‘Play it like it lies.’ Mark’s gentle nature and patience with his physical limitations provided an example for all of us to admire and remember.”