Loretta Mae Mangen passed away peacefully in the early morning hours on Thursday October 22, 2015 at St. John’s Mooreberg Cottage in Billings. She was 84. Loretta was born June 22, 1931 in Lincoln, Nebraska, to Jacob C. and Erma (Shepherd) Jensen. She and her parents later moved to Miles City where her sister Bernice lived with her young family. Loretta graduated from high school there in 1948, and went into nurses’ training where she met Phyllis Wilson who introduced her to Chris Mangen. And the rest is history.
Chris and Loretta were married on June 12, 1950, and spent the rest of their lives together until Chris passed away in 2008. Their first home was in Broadus where they had three boys — Chris Jr., John, and Dan — before moving to the Elliot Bostwick place north of town and starting what is now the Mangen Ranch. After 40 years and making many changes there, they moved to the River place in 1999.
Loretta lived and worked on the ranch, making dinner almost every day except Sundays when she went to church, until she moved to Billings in 2013 and then to Mooreberg Cottage in 2014. There are many fond memories of Loretta holding forth with the ranch crew around her kitchen table at lunchtime, followed by a spirited game or two of cribbage or yahtzee.
Loretta was a wonderful wife, homemaker, mother, aunt, grandmother, and great grandmother. She dearly loved to visit with her friends, play cards (especially 500 and cribbage), yahtzee, and other games. She was sharp, witty, fun, feisty, sweet, and faithful. Loretta loved her husband, her family and friends, her church, her God, and her savior.
Loretta is survived by her sons Chris Jr. (Shelly), John (Mary Alice), and Dan (Ramona); brother-in-law Pierre (Pete) Mangen; granddaughters Melissa (Kevin) Reinhardt, Amanda (Hal) Lewis, Adrienne Burns, Melea (Joe) Sexton, Celes Castro, Joele, Anna, and Elizabeth Mangen; great grandchildren Dominique Mayer, Evani and Tyson Castro, Oliver and Samuel Lewis, Amelia Reinhardt, and Emeline Sexton; dear friends Johnny and Sue Richards, and many others, as well as all her nieces and nephews and their families, so dearly loved, but too many to list here.
In addition to her parents, Loretta was preceded in death by her sisters Bernice and Sylvia, her daughter Linda Marie, her sister-in-law and friend Jane Dale Mangen, and her beloved husband Chris.
In lieu of flowers, Loretta would want any memorials or donations made to Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Broadus.
Visitation will be held on Monday, October 26, 2015 from 1p.m. to 6 p.m. at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Broadus. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, October 27, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. at the Powder River Congregational Church in Broadus. Interment will follow in the Valley View Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting: www.stevensonandsons.com.
Service Schedule
Visitation
1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Monday October 26, 2015
Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home
Broadus, Montana 59317
Funeral Service
11:00 a.m.
Tuesday October 27, 2015
Powder River Congregational Church
Broadus, Montana 59317
Service Schedule
Visitation
1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Monday October 26, 2015
Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home
Broadus, Montana 59317
Funeral Service
11:00 a.m.
Tuesday October 27, 2015
Powder River Congregational Church
Broadus, Montana 59317
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Sandy Parks says
Remembering you all in prayer may God comfort you in this time of sorrow. Loretta was a wonderful woman and I certainly have great memories and treasure the times I spent with her. With deepest Sympathy to Loretta’s whole family. Your in my thoughts and prayers, Sandy
Karen Gunther says
I am so sorry to hear of Loretta’s passing, my prayers and thoughts are with all all the family who has been so much in my life since I was a small girl.
Pam & Dave Nisley says
We both loved this dear woman~ what a treasure she was!! I fondly remember she and Ruby Ullrich riding their small motorcycles all the way out here to visit my mother-in-law, Susan Nisley. This was about 33 years ago! I was so impressed by both of their vigor then, and through the years Loretta has been such a strong encouragement with her strong faith in Jesus Christ 🙂 We look forward to that wonderful reunion one day! Prayers and hugs to all of her loved ones – what great stock you come from!
Sharyn Wallace says
She was such a kick! What a great personality. Thinking of you all.
Shirley Rolf says
Chris, John, & Dan sorry to hear about your mom, I know she is in a better place now and can be with Chris. I did enjoy being around her she was full of he–!
Charlie & Shirley Russell says
Deepest sympathies to all the Mangen family in the loss the a dear great woman-always a good and interesting visit; so community minded! Prayers for your comfort and fond memories
Don & Penny Pearce says
Sorry for the Mangen Family lost. We will miss Lorretta very much and the good times we had with her. She loved playing her games. We had a joke rule when we played Yahtzee at her house, we played her rules. When we played at our house it was the no cheating way. We always had a good laugh. She was A very good friend and very kind to me and my family
Penny
Deb and Owen Hanson says
Chris, Dan, John and families,
We are so very sorry to hear of the loss of your Mom. I always admired her outgoing personality. She was so full of fun and spunk!! Hope your memories help ease the pain….
With Our Deepest Sympathy,
Owen & Deb Hanson
Cindy Burris says
Mangen Families, Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this loss. I know she and Mom had such fun times together, and she was so devoted to Christ and the Lutheran Church in Broadus, and making her community a better place to be. With Sympathy, Dave and Cindy Carter Burris
Nancy Stoddard says
So sorry about Loretta. She had the most irrepressible sense of humor. She could find humor in any situation. She was a joy to be around
Jo and Leo Jurica says
Loretta was such a dear friend over the years . We were together in Church and at prayer group and had great fellowship together. She especially enjoyed Leo’s piano playing at Church and was very generous with her hugs. We are sorry for our loss but know she is heaven ‘s gain. Our condolenes to the family.
Brandon Lantis Family says
Our deepest sympathies for the loss felt by all of the Mangen family and extended family. Aunt Loretta was a wonderful caring person who was able to make you laugh in any situation. She will be missed dearly. Prayers of comfort and love; Brandon, Jennifer, Dylan, and Jayson Lantis
Don and Arlis Bidwell says
Our prayers and thoughts to the families of Loretta. It was an honor and privilege to have known and visited with Loretta and all of you over the years. We will miss her advice and readily given ideas for change
Larry and Val Edwards says
Our prayers are with all of you. Aunt Loretta was like my 2nd mom. We have such great memories of her and her laughter was contagious. She is with Uncle Chris now and playing cards with everyone. She will be missed by all who knew her. Love to everyone and if we can so anything please let us know.
Love Val and Larry
Vic and Laura Lee Ullrich says
Thinking of you Mangen family and lifting you all up in prayer during this sad time. She lived life to the fullest and has now accomplished her ultimate goal..to meet her Savior face to face! What a beautiful thought to ponder. Our deepest sympathy.
wayne & Anita Wetherelt says
So sorry for all of the family with this loss! I too have more memories than I can count. We had some really fun time, especially in the early years of their marriage, then again later, when her Mom was Aunt Dot’s special friend. Our thoughts & prayers to all of you.
Chris and Diana Elwood says
My sincere condolences go out to the whole family. I have so many wonderful memories of Loretta and Chris, they were salt of the earth people, honest, loving, family oriented and wonderful neighbors and friends. Once you met Loretta, you never forgot her, she had so many wonderful qualities all wrapped up in one little blonde woman. She had a sense of humor not found in many people. May God be with her whole family at this time.
We will miss you sweet lady.
Bob Brooks says
My Sympathy goes out to the family of a lovely, intelligent lady.
Vanna Lancaster Byrd says
Love, Prayers and Sympathy to all of Loretta’s family. She never failed to greet me with a twinkle in her eye, a smile on her face, and a hug. I’ll never forget that. We had some good laughs about cleaning chickens, and her electric chicken plucker! She was a hard working frontier woman. Love her a lot. Hugs to all the family.
Mike and Dorrie Mangen says
Prayers to all. We will miss our beloved Aunt Loretta. I have very fond memories us playing ball in early summer then going to the ranch for all the adventures to be had with our cousins and our 2nd Mom and Dad, Loretta and Chris. She was full of life and wit, loved card games and willing to try new things, like motorcycles. My Mom and her were is a group in High School called the Bobby Soxers and I remember those two singing Sentimental Journey and Mares eat Oats, and many other songs and hymns.
She is reunited with Chris and all the loved one that have preceded her.
We Love you Auntie,
Mike, Dorrie, Jeremy and Andy
Bernie and Elsie Biever says
To the Mangen families,
Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this time. We loved Loretta like family. She was always fun to visit, and we had lots of laughs swapping email funnies. Loved her spirit and her wit. We are sad to see her go and can only imagine her joy in heaven.
Hugs to all of you, Bernie and Elsie Biever
Gerald & Janet Himelspach says
Our deepest sympathy to the Mangen family. Loretta was a fun lady to be around, and know she is heaven’s gain. Our friends, Loretta and Chris will be missed.
Douglas P Mangen says
Chris, John & Dan Are thoughts and prayers are with you and your families. It has been a tough year for the Mangen families loosing both moms. We will miss her daily, the card games, jokes and everything else we did with her and Uncle Chris over the years. Dad passes along his condolences also. We both so loved Aunt Lorretta. In Gods Name Love Doug & Pete Mangen
Walter and ArLynn Archer says
Chris, John and Dan and families–
So sorry to hear of the loss of your mother. And all our loss of her spirit, humor, e-mails, visits and laughter. May happy memories sustain you all. Deepest sympathy.
ArLynn and Walter
Keith and Cheryl Fuhrman says
We send our deepest condolences to all of you as you say your final goodbyes to a wonderful mother.
Bonnie Russiff Schott says
Deepest sympathies – Loretta was so wonderful and fun and special to many – Heaven has gained one more – may happy memories carry you through-
David Charles says
I truly enjoyed meeting and visiting with your mother in her home on several of our trips to Broadus in recent years. I know her passing is difficult for all you who knew her so much better than we did. We all send our thoughts and prayers to all of you. She was a wonderful woman. David, Debbie, Matthew and Rachael Charles.