Fay Tangen

April 7, 1935 - April 10, 2009

Fay was born April 7, 1935 to Guy and Emma (Kern) Hopewell in the Tangen Maternity House in Lisbon, North Dakota. Fay grew up on her parents’ farm north of Milnor, North Dakota, and attended rural school near their home. Fay was united in marriage to Neil Tangen of Kathryn, North Dakota on June 6, 1954, in Lisbon. They settled on the farm southeast of Kathryn where they raised their family. Fay worked in Valley City, North Dakota for many years. She loved flowers and gardening, devoting much of her time and energy to working at what was originally known as Fritche’s Gardens, helping others envision what their own gardens would look like. In her later years, she worked at the Dairy Queen in Valley City, where she was known and loved by the people she served (most of Valley City and the surrounding community). Fay always put her family first and was full of love to all that were lucky enough to know her. Her concern for others was one of her most memorable qualities making her special to those that loved her far and wide. She belonged to Waldheim Lutheran Church and the local Ladies’ Aid Fay is survived by her husband, Neil; her children, Deborah Tangen, Gillette, Wyoming; Sally Tangen (Kevin Nawman), Valley City; Tamera (Jerry) Stephens, Moreno Valley, California; Steven (Cara) Tangen, Todd (Leah) Tangen, Kevin (Connie) Tangen, and Tim (Jill) Tangen, all of Kathryn; 18 grandchildren and four great grandchildren. Fay is also survived by one sister and three brothers, Shirley Funk, Lisbon, North Dakota; Marvin Hopewell, Milbank, South Dakota; Gerald (Geraldine) Hopewell, Kindred, North Dakota; and Clark (Caroline) Hopewell, Mesa, Arizona. She was preceded in death by one son, Daniel, her parents, and her sister Lorraine Lundin.