'Kind And Generous': Minnesotans Mourn Mark Hortman And Family Dog Killed In Lawmaker Shootings

'Kind And Generous': Minnesotans Mourn Mark Hortman And Family Dog Killed In Lawmaker Shootings

By MinneapoliMedia Staff | June 17, 2025

COON RAPIDS, MN — As Minnesota continues to grapple with the devastating loss of State Representative Melissa Hortman, tributes have also poured in for her husband, Mark Hortman, and the couple’s beloved golden retriever, Gilbert, who were both killed during the same brutal attack that shocked the state last week.

Mark Hortman, 58, was described by friends and neighbors as “a kind and generous soul,” devoted not only to his family but also to his community. A professional engineer and devoted husband, Mark was known for his quiet strength and unwavering support of his wife’s distinguished political career, which included serving as Speaker of the Minnesota House from 2019 to 2025.

“He was always the first to volunteer, the first to show up, and the last to leave,” said family friend Cheryl Reiter, who knew the couple for over two decades. “Mark believed in public service just as deeply as Melissa did. Their partnership was one of mutual respect and purpose.”

The family’s four-year-old golden retriever, Gilbert, a gentle and loyal companion, was also gravely injured in the June 14 home invasion that ended the lives of the Hortmans. Gilbert was humanely euthanized by the Hortmans' adult children, Sophie and Colin, after the shooting. Neighbors recalled seeing Mark walking Gilbert in the early mornings along the Mississippi River trails, always stopping to chat with passersby and children. Gilbert, initially trained as a service dog through the nonprofit Helping Paws, eventually became the cherished family pet due to his overly friendly nature.

Authorities state the shooting was a politically motivated attack by 57-year-old Vance Boelter. Boelter has since been charged with two counts of second-degree intentional murder for the targeted killing of Rep. Hortman and her husband, and two counts of second-degree attempted intentional murder for the shooting of Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, earlier the same night. Prosecutors have indicated they will seek first-degree murder charges, which carry a mandatory sentence of life without parole. Boelter allegedly had a "hit list" of 45 lawmakers he intended to target and had traveled to other homes the same night of the attack, impersonating a police officer.

Governor Tim Walz has called the act “an attack on our democracy and our decency,” and ordered flags to be flown at half-staff in honor of the victims.

In a statement released by the Hortman family, children Sophie and Colin remembered their parents as “partners in service, who lived their lives with integrity and loved each other deeply.” They encouraged the public to “pet a dog...a golden retriever is ideal, but any will do” as a way to honor their parents' memory.

A memorial service for Mark Hortman and Gilbert is expected to be held jointly with services for Rep. Hortman. The public is encouraged to leave flowers and messages at a growing memorial site outside the Minnesota Capitol.

“Our hearts break for the loss of not just a lawmaker, but a family,” said Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, a close friend and colleague of Rep. Hortman. “Mark and Gilbert were constant presences in Melissa’s life and gave her the strength to lead with courage. We will miss them dearly.”

As the state reels from the aftermath of this unprecedented violence, Minnesotans are finding comfort in the memory of the couple’s legacy — one of love, service, and quiet but profound impact.

MinneapoliMedia