Roland "Took" Marken

Dates

Obituary

Roland “Took” Marken, 73, of Bridgewater, SD, cashed in his final stack of chips Monday, February 13, 2023, at his home in Bridgewater. Visitation will be Monday, February 20, from 5-7:00 PM with a 6:30 PM prayer service at Hettinger-Bittner Funeral Chapel in Emery. Arrangements by Hettinger-Bittner Funeral Chapel.

Roland “Took” Marken was born August 4, 1949 in Sioux Falls to Henry and Esther (Eckhoff) Marken. Took attended Bridgewater Township School for seven years and graduated from Bridgewater High School in 1967. After high school, he attended South Dakota School of Mines. He then moved to Minneapolis where he worked construction, and soon after drove truck over the road. Took married Diane Marken in June of 1975, and was the beloved father of James and Steven, and proud grandfather to Luke.

Took was a lover of the game of chance and spent every winter out in sunny Las Vegas playing poker against some of the greatest players in the nation. During the off-season, you would find him joining in games locally for practice for “the big one” in the winter or tearing through the auction listings.  

Locally known throughout the region as the auction king and the original “Picker” he was a man who couldn't pass up a good deal. His love of wheeling and dealing made him a local legend as the man who truly had everything.

A mountain of a man who spoke his mind and lived life on his own terms every day, Took learned early on that life was meant to be lived and live it he did. The family invites everyone to come to share their stories and memories of the man, the myth, and the legend that was Took Marken.

Took Marken is survived by his sons, James and Steven (Tara), and grandson Luke.

Visitation(s)