Joe Mangum

Ivins, Utah/Bicknell, Utah - Joseph Lee Mangum, age 79, passed away peacefully at home in Ivins on July 16, 2018 after a long, brave fight with cancer. Joe was born at Pine Creek Ranch, Bicknell, Utah on December 7, 1938 to Clifford Lee and Bertha Elizabeth Brown Mangum. He graduated from Wayne High School as valedictorian. He attended Snow College where he met and married Cora Lee Lyman November 1, 1958 in the Manti LDS Temple. He graduated from Utah State University and was employed at Hercules Aerospace for 28 years. He later worked at Dugway Proving Grounds, for EG&G at the Tooele Army Depot South Area and for C-Entry Construction at the Kennecott Copper smelter. Joe and Cora Lee raised 3 children in West Valley City and later divorced. Joe later married Vikki Miller April 24, 1993 in Erda and lived in Erda and Rush Valley, Utah. After Joe retired they moved to Ivins, Utah. Joe loved the outdoors and inspired many young men with that love as he served in a number of capacities in the Boy Scouts of America at the unit and district level. He earned a number of leadership awards including the District Award of Merit, the Silver Beehive and Silver Beaver. He spent his youth on the Boulder and Fish Lake Mountains hauling timber and herding sheep. He loved to hunt and fish and taught countless folks to waterski. While his children were in their teen years he began guiding whitewater rafting trips with them. They became known as Joe's River Rats. They floated many western rivers, including a 2- week trip through the Grand Canyon. Joe and Vikki spent the summer of 2004 touring Alaska in their pickup and fifth wheel. He is survived by his wife, Vikki of Ivins; children: Ron (Wendy) Mangum of Lakepoint, Utah; Kristine Kimball of West Jordan, Utah; Bardell (Susan) Mangum of East Helena, Montana; and Vikki's children: Michael (Melanie) McClung of Victoria, Texas and Kristi (Marty) Redd of Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin; 18 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren; siblings: Bill (Colleen) Coombs of Orem; Claudia (Newell (deceased)) Perry of Brigham City; Mary (Scott (deceased)) Myers of LaVerkin. Joe was preceded in death by his parents, Clifford and Beth, and his sister Bertha Louise Coombs. Funeral services will be Friday, July 20, 2018 at 1:00 P.M. in the Thurber LDS Ward Chapel in Bicknell, where friends may call for viewing Friday morning from 11:00 to 12:30 prior to the services. Burial will be in the Bicknell Cemetery under the care of the Springer Turner Funeral Home of Richfield and Salina, Utah.