Paul Milton Mandigo, age 78, of Glendive, passed away Wednesday, April 12, 2017 at the Eastern Montana Veteran’s Home in Glendive, with his wife Margie by his side.
Visitation will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday, April 17, 2017 at the Silha Funeral Home in Glendive. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, April 18, 2017 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Glendive with Father Francis Schreiber officiating. Rite of Committal will be held at a later date in St. Patrick’s Cemetery in Dickinson, N.D. Silha Funeral Home of Glendive has been entrusted with the arrangements.
Paul was born July 5, 1938 at St. Joseph’s Hospital in St. Paul, Minn. to Milton and Dagmar (Carlson) Mandigo. In his early life Paul worked with his father and siblings on the family farm near Braddock, N.D., and was an avid baseball player. In high school Paul discovered his thirst for knowledge that later in his life became a passion to help others learn as well. He graduated from Braddock High school in 1955. He then joined the US Army in 1958. He attended military training at Ft. Ord, Calif. and again in Ft. Lee, Va. He was stationed at Ellsworth Air Force Base in Spearfish, S.D. as part of a Nike Hercules Missile battalion, ensuring our nation’s defense. He was honorably discharged in 1960 and served in the military reserves for another 2 years. After his service, he taught for a couple years before enrolling at Dickinson State University in his pursuit of higher learning in their education program. He graduated in 1967 with a bachelor’s of science degree in education and taught in Spearfish for a short time before coming to Glendive. He taught school at Lincoln Elementary from 1968-1994. During his time there he met the love of this life, Margie Nester, who was teaching third grade at Lincoln. Margie and Paul were married August 12, 1971 at the Methodist Church in Glendive; and in December of 1975 adopted their first child, Chad. Three years later they adopted a second child, Marni.
Paul was a very influential and involved parent with both of his children, and the best father his children could ever have hoped to have. He enjoyed playing catch in the back yard, teaching his son how to play baseball as one of his coaches in his early years. He attended nearly every game, whether at home or away, all the way through Babe Ruth baseball. He enjoyed watching his daughter Marni learn and perform classical and jazz dance, and attended swim meets for both of his children on weekends all over N.D. and Mont. Paul was also very supportive of the fine arts. He attended multiple concerts and personal performances for his children throughout their school years, and was a member of the Glendive Community Concert association until his death.
Paul was active in the community as a member of the Elks, Lions and Fraternal Order of Moose; he supported the community and youth of Dawson County by lending a hand wherever needed. In retirement Paul spent time working in Makoshika State Park as a maintenance technician, and helped keep up the park so others could enjoy its majestic splendor. His thirst for knowledge and love of western literature was evident in his acquiring and reading the entire works of Louis Lamoure. His collection of those works encircles his home office to this day.
Paul is preceded in death by his mother, Dagmar; father, Milton; brothers-in-law, Ronald C. Wiley, Mike Gutensohn, and Paul Lang; and good friends and neighbors, Darwin Diede and Doug Handtmann.
Paul is survived by his wife, Margie of Glendive; son, Chad (Nichole) and grandson Sean Mandigo of Firestone, Colo.; daughter, Marni (Rich) Chaska and her children Caden Mandigo and Jace and Kendra Linder of Glendive; sisters, Jenny Lang, Lynn Gutensohn and Audrey Wiley; brother, Tom Mandigo; and several nieces and nephews.
Remembrances and condolences may be shared with the family at: www.silhafuneralhomes.com.