Beatrice Tangen

Beatrice (Lee) Tangen, 88, Bismarck, passed away July 15, 2024 at Missouri Slope Lutheran Care, Bismarck. 

A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, July 18 at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Pkwy, Bismarck.

Visitation will begin an hour before the service starts.

Burial will be held at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan. 

Beatrice Marlene was born September 2, 1935, in Northwood, North Dakota to Ben and Mabel (Johnson) Lee. She graduated as class valedictorian.

Bea married Gary Roger Tangen on December 28, 1952 in Hatton. They lived in Hazen while Gary taught school and they raised their three children, Ruth (Tangen) Bettenhausen, Ronald Tangen and Randall Tangen. Bea worked a number of years for the local newspaper, The Hazen Star.

They moved to Washburn for several years while Gary worked at the Coal Creek Power Plant. While in Washburn, she owned Bea’s Ceramic Shop. The two retired and moved to Underwood. In their retirement, they enjoyed many winters in Texas and Arizona. In the last few years, Bea resided in Bismarck. 

In addition to being a lifetime avid reader, Beatrice had many interests including deer hunting, (it was not uncommon for her to shoot the bigger deer than Gary), gardening, ceramics, glass sagging, knitting, painting and antique collecting. Bea loved animals and was kind and compassionate to everyone she encountered. 

Bea is survived by her daughter, Ruth (Tom) Bettenhausen, Bismarck; Ron (Patty) Tangen, Bismarck; grandchildren, Angela Bettenhausen (Justin Rode), Amanda Fechtner (Derrick), Andrew Bettenhausen (Maraliz Vega-Ross), Aaron Bettenhausen (Whitney), Hannah Hagler (Kyle), Melissa Herman (Rob), Lacey (Dan Eastgate); great-grandchildren, Avery and Marquitta Fechtner, Elijah, Elyana and Xander Herman, Charles, Jace and Ryer Eastgate; sister, Sylvia Nelson; and numerous nieces and nephews. 

She was preceded in death by her husband of 59 years, Gary; son, Randy; brother, Gilmore Lee; and her parents.