Phyllis Jean Mangels

| October 20, 2005 12:00 AM

Phyllis Jean Mangels, 85, died peacefully, surrounded by family and friends Oct. 13, 2005, after a very brief illness. She was born to Walter H. and Esther J. Cooper at Keystone, Neb., January 11, 1920. Shortly thereafter the family moved to Montana. The Canyon Ferry Reservoir eventually covered the site of their home in Townsend.

The family then moved to the North Crow area of Ronan where her father worked for the Lake County Road Department and the Ford garage.

Her parents were founding members of the North Crow Club and helped build the clubhouse. Phyllis' mother took care of the milk cows and hogs to help feed the huge family, which for a while, included 10 living children.

Phyllis had a girl friend working at the Hocker farm and when she visited her, she met Walt Mangels, who also worked for Hockers as a cat skinner.

A romance blossomed and they were married Oct. 12, 1940, in the Pablo Lutheran Church.

When WW II broke out Phyllis and Walt went to Seattle to work for Boeing Aircraft. It was in Seattle that their first son, W. Gilbert, was born. Phyllis' mother was so excited to see her first grandson, she sold one of her hogs to pay for the train trip.

Shortly after the war the Mangels returned to Montana and built their home along Highway 93 about five miles south of Polson.

Phyllis was a devoted mother, homemaker and a true helpmate to her husband. She worked right alongside him in the fields or in the potato cellar. Phyllis bore two more sons, Arthur G. and Charles W.

Phyllis was kind to everyone and uncomplaining. She never wanted to be a bother to anyone.

She taught Sunday school for years and loved the Lord as well as her husband and sons. She and Walt were active members of the Polson Senior Center and the Good Sam Club.

Phyllis leaves Walt, her husband of 65 years and a day; sons, Gil (Joanne), and Charles of Polson and Art (Nell) of Dillon: sister Marlyn (Tom) Ronan of Ponca City, Okla.; brothers Don (Alice) of Polson, Bill of Missoula and Gary (Ramona) of Las Vegas; numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

Phyllis was preceded in death by her brothers, Gilbert, James, and Walter Lee Cooper; sisters, Maxine Dellwo, Marjorie Starkel, Julia, Juanita, and Edna Mae Cooper; granddaughter, Teresa Mangels; daughter-in-law Kayleena, and several nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be made to Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church or the Miracle of America Museum. The funeral will be held today, Oct. 20, in the Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church at 10 a.m. And burial will follow at the Lakeview Cemetery.

Condolences may be sent to the family on-line to