Bruce Mangum

Bruce Mangum age 84, a loving husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather, passed away Sunday January 10, 2021.   He was born June 21, 1936 in Hurricane, Utah.

Bruce grew up in a family of 10, 8 boys and 2 girls.  They were all very close and took care of each other.  Bruce had a special bond with each of them and loved them all deeply.  His last surviving brother from the big family is Bud Batty.

Bruce married his sweetheart Etta Spendlove, November 28, 1952 and they were later sealed in the St. George, Utah Temple.  Together they had 6 children, 4 boys and 2 girls.  His children were the joy and meaning of life for him.  He worked hard to provide for his family and had many jobs and trades.  He worked large construction sites and built 2 important dams, drove large equipment and worked long hours.  He spent many years driving truck transporting many different products throughout his life.  Bruce loved long hauls and seeing the country. He especially loved taking his kids and grandkids along on many road trips enjoying every mile with them.

His most cherished jobs were working with his brothers Bill and Dallas moving around different states, making everlasting family bonds with them and their families.  They were always being called the 3 Musketeers.  Bruce also cherished working with his son Troy at Wadman Corp.  He loved working at Wadman and he made many friends throughout the many years he worked there.

Bruce loved people of every walk of life.  He helped many people with kind acts of service, a listening ear and a big heart of sympathy and empathy.  He would give anything he had to help.  He never let anyone go away hungry. He always fed anyone who was around.

Bruce loved to tell a joke or hear a joke or any funny story.  He had a big booming contagious laugh that would always get everyone around him laughing.  Bruce had a funny saying or a nick name for everyone he knew.  His famous saying to his children was “John Wayne up” and “pull your boot straps up” when they needed a little lift in their day or life. Bruce always showed enormous love to all the kids and grandkids and made each of them feel special with words of advice and big bear hugs and always told each of them he loved them.

Bruce loved being outdoors whenever he could go.  He loved fishing and hunting.  The thing he loved best was the famous yearly deer camp/family reunions.  The deer camps were loved and cherished by him; it was a place where each family member came together for the good times, the good food, the campfire talks, the jokes and stories.  He loved the Pine Valley Reunion, everyone will fondly remember Bruce’s dutch oven chicken and potatoes. These memories will stay in our hearts forever.

Bruce had the wonderful beautiful musical talent of playing the guitar and singing. He had a beautiful harmonizing voice that he used singing with his wife and brother Dallas.  He loved country music; it moved his soul and always made him content.  We always heard our dad singing and whistling.

Bruce was a member of “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint.”  He served a mission for his church at the Navajo Indian Reservation in Page, Arizona.  He loved this mission and the special people he met, bringing many souls into the Church.  This was a wonderful joy in his life.  Bruce served in many capacities of the Church and loved every calling that he had throughout his life.  His greatest joy was serving in the nursery in Primary with his wife Etta in Touquerville.  For many years the 3 and 4 year olds called them “Grandpa and Grandma”.   Bruce loved and cared for children.  He stated that children were the “pure love of Christ.” He was honored to have this calling.  Bruce loved his Savior Jesus Christ and testified of Him till the very end of his life on earth.

Bruce will be greatly missed in all our hearts and daily lives.  Heaven gained our Big Tuff Cowboy and our Forever Hero!  God be with you till we meet again. . . .

Bruce is survived by his children: Larry, Salt Lake City, Utah, Shane (Stephanie) Hurricane, Utah, Troy (Laurie), Toquerville, Utah, Venda (Vic Sutton) Twin Falls, Idaho, Faye Dawn (Jed Rowley), Ivins, Utah, numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren, one brother, Bud Batty, Payette, Idaho, numerous in-laws, cousins and extended family.

He is preceded in death by his wife Etta (2007) and his son, Dusty Wayne (1993), and one granddaughter, Kassidy Mangum (1993).

There will be a viewing on Sunday evening January 17th, 2021 from 4:30-6:00 pm at Hughes Mortuary.

Graveside services will be on Monday January 18, 2021 in the Virgin, Utah Cemetery at 1:00 pm.