Aaron Mans

Aaron Raymond Mans, 91, of Great Falls, a Navy veteran and retired senior postal employee, died of congestive heart failure Friday, Dec. 9, at Peace Hospice House.

Cremation has taken place under the direction of Croxford Funeral Home and Crematory, and services will be held at a later date.

Aaron passed away peacefully, surrounded by many family members.

Aaron was born Aug. 6, 1920, to Rudolph and Katherine Mans at the family home in Great Falls. He graduated from Great Falls High School in 1937, at the age of 16. After high school he worked for the Great Northern Railroad.

In 1944, he joined the Navy and had technical training at Iowa State. He served in the naval shipyards at Norfolk,Va., before being honorably discharged in 1946.

Upon returning from the Navy, he moved his family to Malta to help manage the Karsten Ranch with his brothers. He returned to Great Falls in 1951 and went to work at the Great Falls Post Office. He started as a clerk and worked his way up to senior operations specialist before retiring in 1979. He was recognized with special achievement awards during his tenure at the Post Office. He served as secretary, treasurer and president of the Montana branch of the National Association of Postal Supervisors. He was a charter member of the P.M. Optimist Club and a member of the Eagles, Elks, and Masons. Last year, he was honored by Euclid Lodge No. 58 of the Masons for 50 years of membership.

He loved to hunt, especially with his grandchildren. He was also an avid horse racing fan and could sing cowboys songs that would bring a smile to any cowpoke.

In 1941, Aaron married Dorothy Belter in Great Falls, and they had two sons. In 1973, he married Ione "Sugar" Raun Dardis in Coeur D' Alene, Idaho.

Aaron is survived by his wife, Ione; sons William (Penny) Mans of Anchorage, Alaska, and Dr. Raymond G. (Sarah) Mans of Florence, Ore., and Barry (Marcie) Dardis of Great Falls; daughters Barbara (Tony) Rio of Lincoln, Mary Ann Nedescu of Buffalo, N.Y., and Kathy "Suz" (Matt) Tigart of Great Falls; 17 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; a sister-in-law, Mary Mans; and a brother-in-law, Adolph Peressini.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Alfred, Edward and Clifford; and sister Ethel Peressini.

Memorials in his honor are suggested to Peace Hospice of Montana.

Condolences may be posted online at www.croxfordfuneralhome.com and/or www.gftribune.com/obituaries.