Mark Kiefer - Charter Class

Mark Kiefer, Class of 1975, was born to Bill and Betty Kiefer of Rathdrum, Idaho.  Mark is the second oldest of 5 children – with 2 brothers, Terry and Bret, and 2 sisters, Doreen and Jeri.

Mark attended Lakeland High School from 1971 through 1975.  He participated in varsity football for 3 years, varsity basketball for 3 years, and lettered in track and field for 4 years.   After graduating from Lakeland, he played basketball at North Idaho College for 2 years and participated in track and field for one year, then went on to LCSC to complete his degree in education, and played basketball for an additional 2 years.

His athletic achievements include 3 “still-standing” Lakeland High School records in track and field– the long jump at 22 feet, 7 inches; the triple jump at 45 feet, 1 inch, and the high hurdles in 15.1 seconds.  He won the Idaho State A-2 Championship in the long jump in 1975, and the Idaho State A-2 Championship in the triple jump in 1974 and 1975 – with a distance that was an Idaho state meet record.   In Lakeland High School basketball, he holds the highest scoring record of 45 points in a single game.  He accomplished this as a sophomore in the 1972-73 school year. 

Mark thanks his 7^th grade coach, Roger Bacon, for keeping the gym open after practice for as long as anyone wanted to play  and for getting him “hooked” on basketball, and his high school football and basketball coaches, Vern Bengtson, Dick Schultz, Jim Scott, Tom Kane and his uncle Terry Kiefer, for making football and basketball fun and challenging.

Terry, Mark’s oldest brother, was Mark’s biggest inspiration.  He set some high standards for Mark to follow and was always positive and supportive.  “Thank you, brother Terry.”

After college, Mark taught and coached in Omak, Washington until taking a position as a firemen with the Spokane Fire Department in 1984.  He moved back to the Rathdrum area, and has helped coach boys and girls basketball, at various age levels, ever since.

Mark and his wife of 34 years, Karol, reside at Hauser Lake.  They have 3 children, Kirk, Kara, and Kameron.  Kirk and Kameron are also fireman, and Kara just accepted a job with Washington State University working with various student athletes as a Leadership Coordinator.  Kirk and his wife, Lynsey, have blessed them with 3 beautiful grandchildren, Karstyn, Kapree and Kinsey.

His plans for the future include finishing the house they are building, retiring from the fire department within the next few years, spending more time with family, doing more fishing and hunting, and watching whatever the grandkids are doing.