Mark David Bjorklund

Mark David Bjorklund, born on May 31, 1954, in Los Alamos, NM, passed away peacefully on June 6, 2025, following a heroic struggle with pancreatic cancer. Mark was the son of Carl and Marilyn Bjorklund. Carl came to Los Alamos National Lab as a Chemist. Marilyn was a botanist and ornithologist. Mark inherited scholarly pursuits from Carl and a love of nature from Marilyn. Growing up in a neighborhood of runners near Aspen Elementary School, he trained for cross country and track on the many mountain trails that surround Los Alamos. A common weekend run was to start from home and run up to Camp May before breakfast. Sometimes Marilyn and Carl would meet them with breakfast, then spend the morning hiking and looking at birds and flowers around Camp May, nurturing a love of nature.

After graduating from Los Alamos High School in 1972, Mark attended the University of New Mexico, where he ran cross country for UNM on scholarship and double majored in Biology and Chemistry. Mark was accepted to UNM School of Medicine, and attended one year, before taking a 2 year break from studies to travel.

Mark traveled north to Alaska to visit his girlfriend, Heidi, then south to the Galapagos Islands, and Punta Arenas, Chile. The collect call from Chile to Alaska was rather pricey, but worth the cost. Mark returned to Alaska where Mark and Heidi decided to marry. The wedding was held on December 29, 1979, in the United Church of Los Alamos. Farolitos lit the walks outside the church, and Heidi’s father, Dale Holm, made candle holders to light the pews inside the church. These candle holders are still used today during Christmas services. Mark and Heidi’s honeymoon was spent in a cabin in the Jemez, cross country skiing by day, and trying to keep warm by the fire at night. Mark and Heidi returned to Alaska where Mark earned money selling Rainbow vacuum cleaners, then transporting people from the streets of Anchorage to the Salvation Army detox facility. His final dream job in Alaska was selling photographic equipment at a Camera Store in Anchorage. Mark spent most of the money he earned in the store, buying camera gear at a discount, starting a lifelong passion for photography. Mark and Heidi drove back to New Mexico in Heidi’s Honda Civic. Packed to the brim, they traveled down the Alcan Highway to Skagway and boarded the Alaska State Ferry to Seattle. Making a stop in Juneau on the way, they caught a float plane to a small cruise ship in Glacier Bay. During the cruise, they saw humpback whales feeding near the boat and fur seals resting on small icebergs in the bay, puffins floating on the water, and a large bald eagle nest. This was a dream vacation for the two love birds.

Mark returned to UNM School of Medicine and Heidi got a job as a Registered Nurse at UNM Hospital’s Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. During Medical School, Mark and Heidi became the proud parents of their daughter, Renee. Mark received his Doctorate in Medicine from UNM and the family traveled to Pennsylvania in the same Honda Civic, with a car seat and baby in the back. The trip had a brief delay in Cairo, Illinois, when the Honda timing belt broke. A kind couple took in the stranded family for the weekend, and the Honda, with a new timing belt, made the rest of the journey to Pennsylvania where Mark started a residency in Family Practice. During his residency Mark’s family was blessed with 2 more daughters, Rachel and Erin. The growing family brought with it more expenses. A resident’s income is limited, so Mark earned extra money by moonlighting at emergency rooms near Hershey. After completing residency at Penn State’s College of Medicine, in Hershey, PA, Mark was hired at Carlisle Hospital Emergency Room to work night shift. Mark and Heidi became the proud parents of their son, David, while in Pennsylvania.

After working 8 years in emergency medicine, Mark found his true calling, a 30 year career as a Family Medicine provider at Health Centers of Northern New Mexico, later named El Centro Family Health. Started in 1972, this Federally Qualified Health Center provides services in 13 health and 3 dental and 8 school based clinics of Northern NM. Growing up in the relative wealth and privilege of Los Alamos, Mark had an awareness that things were quite different in the surrounding communities. He wanted to give back to New Mexico. He accomplished his goal. Truchas Clinic became his regular Thursday location, where he cared for multiple generations, even making house calls when needed. Mark was devoted to his patients and found fulfillment of a longtime desire to serve in the region.

He was recognized by his peers at the New Mexico Primary Care Association, as Provider of the Year for 2018. His leadership roles included serving on various review committees at Espanola Hospital. He was a preceptor for UNM medical students in the clinic, inspiring students to serve the underserved population. As Chief Clinical Officer, he facilitated the start of a Residency Program in Family Medicine in the Espanola Valley to bring new doctors to Northern New Mexico and had hoped to precept residents part-time during retirement. He remained Board Certified in Family Medicine throughout his career, even completing Continuing Education while taking chemotherapy. Many of his former patients and colleagues became lifetime friends, referring to him affectionately as “Dr. BJ”. In the final months of his battle with cancer, many came by to say, “thank you,” wanting to give back to the doctor who made a real difference in their lives, not just with medical knowledge and prescriptions, but with heartfelt care and compassion.

In addition to his career in medicine, Mark was a beloved husband, father, brother and grandfather. He also was an avid photographer, naturalist, (especially fond of birds, dragonflies, damselflies, wild plants) runner, mountain climber, and cherished friend to many.

Mark is survived by his wife of 45 years, Heidi Holm Bjorklund, children: Renee Johnson (Morgan), David Bjorklund (Chloe), siblings Eric Bjorklund (Kathy) and Lynn Bjorklund, and 8 grandchildren Peyton, Tristan, Kieran, Connor, Brooklyn, and Wyatt Johnson and Ian and Aria Bjorklund.

He is preceded in death by his daughters Rachel and Erin Bjorklund, and parents, Carl and Marilyn Bjorklund.

Mark and Heidi would like to thank all the family and friends that provided prayer support, loving care, food, rides, walks, conversation and humor in Mark’s final struggle.

The family would like to ask friends to leave comments and stories, no matter how small, on the website wwwRiveraFamilyFuneralHome.com. These stories will provide a fuller story of the contribution Mark made to our lives.

Mark was loved and will be missed by everyone.

His celebration of Life will be held on July 26th at 2pm at the United Church of Los Alamos, with a reception to follow. If anyone wishes to bring food to the reception following the service, please contact Jenny McCumber at 505-695-9641. 

Please visit www.riverfamilyfuneralhome.com to leave stories, pictures, and comments for the family to cherish.

To stream please go to the church's website and click on "stream online" at the top of the home page. Links are as follows;

United Church website     unitedchurchla.org

Facebook link            facebook.com/TheUnitedChurchofLosAlamos

Youtube link/channel           www.youtube.com/@UnitedChurchofLosAlamos