Jay Mangus

Longtime Worland resident, Van Jay Mangus, passed away on Friday, November 25, 2016 in Billings, Montana at age 84.

Jay was born on December 25, 1931 at Lovell, Wyoming to Violet (Berthelson) and Chauncey Charles Mangus. Jay was raised on a farm near Byron, Wyoming and attended school in Byron.

He was part of a state championship football and basketball team in 1948 & 1949. He graduated as the Salutatorian of his Class of 1950. He attended college briefly, then went to work building the Hyart Theater in Lovell.

He was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1952, and served as a radio-operator during the Korean Conflict. Following his discharge he returned to the Big Horn Basin and went to work for Mountain States Telephone Co. in Worland. He started as an installer-repairman and eventually worked in the central office as a technician.

He met and fell deeply in love with Peggy A. Steele. The couple married in Worland on December 31, 1965 and made their home here until being transferred to Douglas, Wyoming in 1969. The family moved back to Worland in 1976 and Jay continued to work for U.S. West in the central office. He retired in 1995.

Jay loved spending time with his wife and family, whom he loved dearly. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and riding his horses.

He was a "tinkerer" and could fix anything. He was well known for his homebuilt motorbike "Hardley"- Davidson and often rode it to his daily meetings at McDonald's with his close friends to drink coffee and settle world problems.

A good Christian, Jay was a member of Zion Lutheran Church and had filled in on the Consistory Board.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Wayne and Bert, and a sister Peggy Havig, and his great granddaughter Hayden Grace Rohrer.

Jay is survived by his wife Peggy; his son Rick (Nancy) Mangus; and his daughters Cheryl (Matt) Jackson and Kelli (Jay) Moore all of Worland, Cameo (Gary) Olsen of Douglas, WY and Jewel (Steve) King of Rock Springs, WY. , his brother in law David Steele of Rancho Mirage, CA. sisters in law Maria Steele of Worland and Evelyn Whitson of Billings, MT. He is also survived by fourteen grandchildren and nineteen great-grandchildren with one more on the way and numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, December 2, 2016 at 11:00 AM at Zion Lutheran Church. American Legion Post #44 will conduct military honors. The casket will be open at the church from 9:00am. Cremation will then take place. Upon Peggy's passing, Jay's remains will be placed in her loving arms.

Memorials may be made in his name to the Z.E.S.T. Building Project at P.O. Box 376 – Worland, Wyoming 82401.

Veile Mortuary is in charge of the arrangements.