Pierre “Pete” Mangen, age 93, of Miles City passed away on Tuesday, April 11, 2017 at the VA Community Living Center surrounded by his son, pastor and nurses.
Pete was born August 23, 1923 in Kingsley, Montana the son of Katie and Theodore Mangen. He grew up and attended rural country school where he and his brothers George and Chris rode 2 ½ miles each way to school. Pete and his brothers batched it in a one room log house. Pete worked his way through high school at the N.Y.A (National Youth Administration) where he made $21 a month stoking the furnace, sweeping floors, and cleaning chalk boards at the grade school. During school Pete came in with his class to attend a music festival in Miles City in which the whole class rode in the back of a cattle truck the whole 80 miles to Miles City. Pete graduated from Powder River High School on May 1, 1942. Pete took a test in Miles City for aircraft electrical school in Eugene, Oregon. He passed and graduated from the program in November 1942. He then went to Geiger Filed in Spokane, Washington where he worked until October 1943 when he was drafted. He served in the 1636th. Engineering Construction Battalion at Camp Abbott, Oregon. He graduated from New York Electrical Trade School in August of 1944. He ended up in Fort Lewis in Washington and trained for overseas duty. In February of 1945 he landed in LeHavre, France. He served in 3 continents, 2 wars, 3 battles in Europe the Phillipines and Japan. After serving in 3 theaters Pete was honorably discharged in 1946.
Following his discharge Pete began working in Billings for Yellowstone Electric and Mike’s Electric Co. his work took him to Big Timber, Harlowton, Shelby, Lewistown and eventually to Miles City where he worked on the Court House. It was then Pete met the love of his life Jane Dale at the Crossroads in Miles City. They were married on September 3, 1949 and to this union had three children Mike, Val and Doug. Together they worked raising their family in Miles City where Pete worked for Miles City Electric and then the radar base. Eventually Pete started his own Electric Motor Shop in 1960 at 201 S. 6th Street. There he rewound and repaired motors and power tools. In the late 1960’s he became the first part time state electrical inspector. In 1972 he purchased a lot from his mother-in-law Gladys and began construction on a new shop building. In 1973 he incorporated and formed Mangen’s Electric Inc. An addition was added in 1985 to have more room. He worked at the shop up until 2014 coming in daily to answer the phone and putter on motor projects. After his wife of 65 years passed away on January 4, 2015, he went to Billings for a month before moving back to Miles City living in the Eagles Manor until December of 2015. He then went to the VA Community Living Center where he has resided since.
Pete was the past Master of the Yellowstone Masonic Lodge 26 AFAM and past patron of the Order of Eastern Star. He was a lifetime member of the VFW and 1st Baptist Church. One of Pete’s biggest honors was being able to travel to Washington D.C. as a member of the Big Sky Honor Flight. Pete’s biggest honor was being a father and grandfather to his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Pete is survived by his son Mike (Dorrie) Mangen of Billings, MT and their sons Jeremy and Andy; his daughter Val (Larry) Edwards of Goodyear, AZ and their kids: Matt (Erin) Edwards and Haley, Noah and Emily; Jennifer (Brandon) Lantis and Jayson and Dylan; and his son Doug Mangen of Miles City, MT; his sister-in-law Frances Mangen of Sioux Falls, SD. Numerous nieces and nephews and his family in Luxembourg with whom he and Dale visited. He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 65 years Jane Dale Mangen, his brothers George and Chris Mangen; sister-in-law, Loretta Mangen; brother and sister-in-law, Vince and Harriet Haworth.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday, April 18, 2017 at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home with family receiving friends from 4:00-6:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, April 19, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. at the First Baptist Church. Interment will follow in the Custer County Cemetery with full military honors. Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home of Miles City is in charge of the arrangements. In lieu of flowers memorials can be made to the 1st Baptist Church, Wakeup and Lace Up or a charity of your choice.
Service Schedule
Family to Receive Friends
4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Tuesday April 18, 2017
Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home
1717 Main Street
Miles City, Montana 59301
Funeral Service
11:00 a.m.
Wednesday April 19, 2017
First Baptist Church
900 Palmer Street
Miles City, Montana 59301
Graveside Service with Full Military Honors
Wednesday April 19, 2017
Custer County Cemetery
Cemetery Road
Miles City, Montana 59301
Service Schedule
Family to Receive Friends
4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Tuesday April 18, 2017
Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home
1717 Main Street
Miles City, Montana 59301
Funeral Service
11:00 a.m.
Wednesday April 19, 2017
First Baptist Church
900 Palmer Street
Miles City, Montana 59301
Graveside Service with Full Military Honors
Wednesday April 19, 2017
Custer County Cemetery
Cemetery Road
Miles City, Montana 59301
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Deb Moths Schmeling says
Dear Mangen Family,
So sorry to hear about your Dad. You are all in my thoughts and prayers. May God wrap His loving arms around each one of you.
Denise Harvey says
Dear Mangen family,
Our thoughts are with you at this time. Your dad will be missed. Oh what a joyous reunion your mom and dad are having. Take care, Denise and Jay Harvey
Terry becker says
Dear mangen family sorry to hear Pete passed on, he was a very good friend of mine, he is with your mother now.
Tom and Janis Ferrell says
Doug – We are so very sorry to hear of Pete’s passing. He was such a interesting guy to visit with and had many stories to tell. He will be missed.
Andy "Drew" Mangen says
Grandpa, you will be missed by so many people! You were a huge influence in my life (both personally and professionally). I am very proud to have had you in my life! You were truly a part of the “Greatest Generation”! Thank you for serving our country, being a wonderful husband, brother, father, grandfather, great grandfather, mentor and friend!
It brings me comfort in knowing you are once again with grandma and no longer in pain!
I will cherish the wonderful memories I hold near to me forever!
Your Loving Grandson,
Andy “Drew” Mangen – Tucson, Az
Ruben aand June Opp says
Dear Mangen family, We are so sorry to hear about your loved one going to join his beloved wife and other family members, had not heard the he was ill. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all May God bless and comfort you all.
Ruben and June Opp
Frosio-Reuter Jos says
dear Mangen Family We are sorry to hear about your Dad Pete , our cousin . Our thoughts are with you here in Luxemburg. We remember the nice days we passed with him here in Luxemburg and in Montana. Marianne and Jos Frosio- Reuter and their children Claude and Nathalie
Frosio-Reuter Jos says
Dear Mangen Family We are sorry to hear about your Dad Pete our cousin. Our thoughts are with you here in Luxemburg. We remember the nice days, we passed together with him in Luxemburg and in Montana. . Marianne and Jos Frosio- Reuter and their children Claude and Nathalie
Jan and Vern Brost says
Mike, Dorrie, Jerry and Andy…just heard of your Dad and Grandpa’s passing…doesn’t matter what age, just leaves a bittersweet empty spot in your hearts. We always enjoyed our visits with both your folks…dear people! We send our love and prayers to each of you as you remember him and celebrate his life. We miss each of you!
Gwen Wickham says
Dear Doug and Family,
So Sorry to hear about Pete’s passing. May the Lord put his arms around you and comfort you during this time.
Mike and Myrna Higgins says
Deepest sympathy and prayers for the passing of Pete. A special man in the life of many and in the eyes of the Lord. 7
Richard E Meidinger says
So sorry for the loss of your dad. You are all in our thoughts and prayers. LInda and Richard
Maureen Larson says
Dear Mangen Family,
So sorry to hear of your father’s passing. You are all in my thoughts and prayers.
Pam Rogge says
Dear Doug and family,
I was so sorry to hear about Pete. He was a nice man and a good neighbor for many years. Nice to think of him and your mom together again. You are all in my thoughts and prayers. 11
Pam Rogge says
Dear Doug and family,
I was so sorry to hear about Pete. He was a nice man and a good neighbor for many years. Nice to think of him and your mom together again. You are all in my thoughts and prayers.
Ray and Terri Schmidt says
We are so sorry for your loss! Please know we are thinking of all of you!
Jarett Gundlach says
Doug and Family
So sorry to hear about Pete. In the years I was there he was always gentle and patient with me at the shop and he treated me kindly and with respect. He was a good man. We are thinking of you.
Jarett Gundlach and Family
Dennis & Susan Bakken says
So sorry for your loss
Martine Weis says
Dear Mangen Family,
we are deeply sorry to hear about Pete passing away. We will always remember him as the gentle and very kind man, that welcomed us in his home all those years ago on our visit to Montana, our first visit ever to the US. He showed us around with great patience and pride for his country. Together with Dale he paid us a visit too, 2 years later. They are reunited now in heaven.
We send our deepest condolences.
Annette, Marcel, Martine and André Weis-Henkel from Luxembourg
Linette Donnelly says
Doug,
So sorry to hear the loss of your dad. Thinking of you and your family.
Matt and Linette Donnelly
Bus Morris says
My condolences to the family of Pete Mangen on your loss of him. During the years we lived in Miles City, Pete was a very good friend and did many repair jobs for me. He is going to be missed.
Bus Morris
Glendive
Heather Moon says
Pete was such a wonderful friend (I knew Pete & Jane Dale through OES) – always welcoming and so giving. It was always “down home week” when they came to visit the Terry chapter… It was always “what do you want me to help with”.
A finer man can not be found … I will miss him!!
Elder & Sister Astle says
Dear Mangen Family,
We were saddened to hear of the passing of your father. It was the highlight of our week to visit him each Friday for the past 13 months and learn of his life. He will forever remain in our heart.
Hal & Alene Astle
Doug and Diane Ellingson says
Doug and Family, Our condolences on your loss of Pete. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. Doug and Diane Ellingson
Etringer-Seil says
Our condolences on your loss op Pete.
We have met him during his visit with Jane Dale in Luxemburg.
Family Etringer-Seil Emile