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Obituary for Mark E. Belland
Mark Belland 86 passed away peacefully with the love of this life Lillian Belland by his side on the morning of December 9th 2020. Mark was born on January 22 1934 in Thief River Falls, Minnesota. He was the first of 7 children born to Cecil and Edward Belland.
Mark joined the United States Army as a paratrooper in 1952 until 1955, he then joined the United States Air Force in 1957 and became a Loadmaster. He was stationed at Travis Air Force Base in California where he met the love of his life Lillian (Zupich) Belland. He was in the 75th Squadron at Travis Air Force Base for most of his career, in October 1965 he went to Vietnam and served in country for almost a year before returning to Travis Air Force Base. He didn’t talk much about his time in Vietnam but suffered from PTSD and nightmares for the rest of his life. Despite this he served his country proudly for 20 years and retired from the military in 1974 in Vacaville, Ca. Mark then worked as a “Trucker” for several years even going to Alaska from 1975 to 1977 to work on the Alaskan oil pipeline.
In 1977 he saw an opportunity to learn Building Inspecting thru the city of Vacaville and fell in love with the job. He ended his career as the Senior Building Inspector for the city of Vacaville retiring in 1994. Real retirement was not sitting idle for Mark, he and his wife Lillian traveled across country in their various RV’s as long as possible. Mark and Lillian were married for 58 years.
Mark adored little kids and animals, he couldn’t help but stop and talk to them. He could always put any baby to sleep with his “Ding a Ding” song. His 2 miniature schnauzer’s Buddy and Molly were always by his side even on his last day.
Mark is survived by his loving wife Lillian Belland, his 3 brothers David, Vernon and Tom Belland his sister Barbara Robinson, his 3 daughters Cathleen Prestridge (Greg), Dianna Pledger, and Julie Belland his 3 grandchildren Miryana Loignon (Warren), Mark Pledger and Georgette Gutierrez (Juan), His 4 great grandchildren Madison and Wyatt Loignon and Mateo and Ivy Gutierrez along with numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by this mother and father Cecile and Edward Belland along with his brother Gerald and his sister Jane Belland.
Mark will be interred at the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery on December 22nd at 2pm, because of the Covid restrictions it will be by invitation only. We will hold a memorial for him later in 2021 when restrictions have lifted in Vacaville CA.
