Mark D. Hutchens

Mark Darren Hutchens of Beaver City, Nebraska unfortunately passed away of respiratory failure on July 27, 2025 at Phelps Memorial Hospital in Holdrege Nebraska. He was 62 years and 11 months old.

Mark, or Hutch to many who knew him, was born on August 27, 1962 in Norton Kansas to his parents Lyle and Susan Hutchens of Hendley Nebraska. He was raised on a farm south of Hendley until he was eighteen years of age. He attended kindergarten through third grade at the Hendley Grade School, then finished the remainder of his schooling at Arapahoe Public School in Arapahoe, Nebraska.

After school, Mark moved all over the United States working at a wide variety of jobs until 1987, when he met his future wife. On October 15th, 1988, Tina Knuth joined him in marriage. They resided in Oxford Nebraska while Mark managed a local lumberyard. In November of 1989, he became the proud father of his first daughter, Carah Rae. Mark served on the Oxford chamber of commerce board for two years after Carah was born, and managed Oxford Tires for three years. Then, in January of 1993 he became a proud father of his second daughter, Jade Marie.

Mark then worked as a Nurse’s Aide for three and a half years. During this time, he found his true calling, which was to care for those in need. He quit his job, moved his family to Norton Kansas, and became a full-time student at Colby Community College, through which he became a Licensed Practicing Nurse for nearly a decade. To him, this job went beyond the basis of nursing. He saw it only as an opportunity to tough people's lives by making them feel important and special as he attempted to brighten their day. In October of 2000, his third and final daughter, Dine’ Cedar was born.

In 2008, Mark and Tina got a divorce, but they continued to stay friends until he died. He met his second wife, Jennifer Bates, and they got married in 2010. They shared many happy years together, but ultimately life separated them and they got divorced in 2019. He stayed single after Jennifer.

Anyone who knew Mark knew of his kind and mischievous spirit. He was a joker at heart and loved to make people laugh. He was the comic relief in situations that needed it, but he also could be the shoulder to cry on in the situations that didn’t. He loved the outdoors and would jump at any opportunity to go outside, whether that be to ride his motorcycle, artifact hunt, start projects, or simply sit down and just escape down at his crick, which he referred to as “Marks Paradise”.

Mark is survived by his father, Lyle Hutchens, and sister, Dana Paxton along with her children, Wiyanna, Shylo (Treyton), and Tia, followed by his many great nieces and nephews. He is also lived on by his three daughters and their spouses: Carah and Kyle Varvel, Jade and Charlie Konya, and Dine’ and Luis Chavez, along with his grandchildren: MaLeah, Addison, Lillian, Landon, Gracie, Marley, Idris, Lyla, and Ivyana. Lastly, he is survived by his many other friends and family.

Mark's main request was that nobody mourn over his death. He wanted everyone he knew to rejoice in the laughter and love he brought to this world during his amazing ride.

Funeral Services will be held on Saturday August 2, 2025 at 2 p.m. at Garey Funeral Chapel in Arapahoe, Nebraska with Gary Janssen officiating. Burial will follow services at Lynden (Hendley) Cemetery in Hendley, Nebraska. Per Mark’s wishes there is no public viewing or visitation. In Lieu of flowers, Mark also requested memorials be given in his name to Shriners Hospital. Garey Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.