Clear and Breezy, 56° F
(July 10, 1930 - June 10, 2013)
Ruelon Teddy “Ted” Mangun, 82, died Monday, June 10, 2013.
He was born July 10, 1930, in Ontario, Ore. He was adopted by Guy and Mildred (Baker) Mangun six months later. He attended elementary and secondary schools and graduated from Payette, Idaho, in 1948. He attended Eastern Oregon College of Education.
Ted worked for Oregon State Forestry in a lookout for two years. He then went to Burbank radio operator’s school, where he received his first phone radio license.
He worked in radio in Anaconda, Havre and Libby, Mont., before coming to KPOW in Powell.
He worked there for 11 years and met his wife, Verla Land. They were married July 11, 1958. They moved to Belgrade, Mont., with two small children in 1967, and he was employed by KGVW Christian radio for 12 years.
He worked as a custodian for the Belgrade School system for 16 years. He retired in 1994.
He served as a board member of the Christian and Missionary Alliance Church in Belgrade for 40 years. He also worked with the AWANA children’s program for 37 years. For several years in his younger days, he was a Belgrade Little League coach.
He was on the Belgrade City Council for several years, serving from 1972 to 1975. He also served as president and vice president of the Belgrade Senior Center for four years.
Some of his favorite things to do were camping, fishing and playing games with many friends and relatives.
He is survived by his wife, Verla, of 54 years; three children, sons Rennie (Becky) of Florence, Mont., daughter, Mardee (Paul) Hespen of Belgrade, and son, Darris (Carrie) of Kooskia, Idaho; and by 10 grandchildren: Jeremy, Jennifer, Jessica, all of Belgrade; Ross, Ryan and Riley of Florence; and Kammeron, Trayse, Kaitlyn and Ashton of Kooskia.
He also is survived by seven great-grandchildren and a sister, Joann Mangun, of Payette, Idaho, as well as several nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will take place at 1 p.m. Monday, June 17, at Belgrade Alliance Church. His ashes will be interred on the family cabin grounds in the mountains of Council, Idaho, where he enjoyed friends and family gatherings for more than 64 years.
Memorials may be given to the Yellowstone Alliance Adventure Camp, 13707 Cottonwood Canyon Rd., Bozeman, MT 59718. Arrangements are in the care of Dokken-Nelson Funeral Service, www.dokkennelson.com
