Mark Raymond "Hep" Heptner

Mark Raymond “Hep” Heptner, 72, passed away peacefully on Monday, June 8, 2026 at his Bedford home with his wife, Kimberly and family by his side. He was born on February 16, 1954 in Johnstown to the late Elizabeth “Betty Jane” and Raymond F. Heptner Sr. On July 16, 2005, Mark was united in marriage to Kimberly (Yetter) Heptner. Along with his wife, Mark is survived by five children: Melanie Seville and husband Kurtis of Newville, Winter Bish and husband Lee of Bedford, Sarah Brenize and husband Wayne of Bedford, Matthew Mentzer and wife Briana of Bedford, and Michael Schellhammer and wife Amanda of Singapore, Asia; 12 grandchildren: Tyler, Sydney, Mckenzie, Aidan, Blake, Cody, Colin, Mason, Lyla, Lucy, Daisy, and Gemma; one great-grandson; five siblings: Joyce and partner Alan of Hagerstown, MD, Roxanne widow of Art of Beverly Hills, CA, Barbara and husband Joey of Johnstown, Raymond Jr. and wife Barbara of Manns Choice, and Betsy widow of Mike of TX; and six nieces and nephews: Scott and wife Celena, April and husband Brad, Raymond III and wife Lindsay, Raleigh and wife Jodi, Lyndsey and husband Brian, and Nicole and husband Landry.

Mark graduated from Conemaugh Valley High School in Johnstown. He started his career at Zepka’s Harley Davidson in Johnstown as a teenager. Mark was a master Harley Davidson mechanic and went on to teach Harley Davidson mechanics at MMI in Phoenix, AZ, and also opened a Harley dealership in Tasmania, Australia.

Mark owned and operated custom motorcycle shops in Johnstown and Bedford. He owned and operated Heps Custom Cycles in Bedford in 2005 where he showcased his custom bike design and repair skills. He was a master Harley Davidson mechanic, and his life was all about motorcycles; building, designing, racing, riding, and repairing them. A bike he raced for years has been donated to the Wheels Through Time Museum located in Maggie Valley, NC.

Mark was an accomplished motorcycle drag racer, who won as many races as he lost. As part of his racing career, he piloted a nitromethane top fuel bike, as well as raced on 500-foot-long dirt tracks in New Paris, Bedford, Bakers Summit, and Beaver Falls.

As a businessman, Mark was known for his philanthropy. He founded the Heps Custom Cycle Senior Citizen Benefit Run, and the Bedford County Rock and Ride for Charity. The proceeds of these events covered the county’s senior citizens’ heating and electric costs and many other needs in his community. Dressed as Santa, Mark would visit seniors in assisted living residences who had no visitors, leaving small gifts. He also delivered food bank items to seniors who were unable to visit the food bank.

Mark attended Bedford Presbyterian Church. He was a Master Mason with the Bedford Masonic Lodge No. #320, F&AM and held membership in the Widows Sons Masonic Riders Association, a member of the Bedford American Legion Post # 113, the Bedford VFW Post # 7527, and previously served as Administrator of the Bedford Moose Lodge # 480. He loved his life, and enjoyed fishing, kayaking, camping, hunting, and fellowship with family and friends.

Mark’s life will be honored on Saturday, June 13, 2026 at 5 p.m. in the Chapel at the Timothy A. Berkebile Funeral Home in Bedford where Thalia Fleetwood will offer a short remembrance of Mark, and the Mason’s will perform a ceremony. Friends will be received on Saturday from 3 -5 p.m. at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Mark’s memory to the Bedford County Humane Society, 182 Bohn Road, Bedford, PA 15522. Our online guest book is available at www.berkebilefuneralhome.com.