Marcella Von Tangen

A beautiful life was born on March 5, 1925 on the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation to Philomena Wuitschick and Henry Mentz-Marcella. Our beloved and adored Elder Marcella crossed over in Portland, Oregon on June 10, 2023 at the age of 98. She was preceded in death by her parents and her siblings Louie, Margaret, Antone, Billy, Henry, Rose, Ramona, Agnes, and Walter, her husband Lu and her little dog Boo.

She was an enrolled member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. She was a boarding school survivor, having attended Pierre Indian School in Pierre, South Dakota. She was very proud to be a Rosie the Riveter. She was part of the American Rosie the Riveter Association and was instrumental in getting their first float in the Rose Festival Parade this June, where they were the Grand Marshalls. Sadly, she did not make it to the parade. She joined the World War II war effort of ship-building at age sixteen. She became a boilermaker/helper, joining a new union at the Kaiser and Albina Shipyards in Portland, Oregon. In addition, she worked as a riveter, working at Doak Aircraft Company in Torrance, California. In following years, she had many jobs. She worked at Steinfeld Pickle Company, American Can and Stepson Fiber Food Container, where she lost three fingers in a work accident. She also worked at several golf courses. As a waitress, she worked at Columbia Edgewater Country Club where she met and served many celebrities, many of whom requested her because of her professional and sophisticated demeanor.

She married Jim Payne in 1943; they later divorced. In 1977, she married Ludolph "Lu" Von Tangen, a Norwegian ship captain. They were together for 30 years until his passing in 2007. Together, they enjoyed being part of Cascade Sam's RV Chapter, traveling all over the U.S. They were involved in the Sea Scouts in Vancouver. They enjoyed a lively social life, giving parties, going to events and enjoying friends and family.

Marcella was vivacious and curious about life, she sought out adventure and lived with a positive attitude despite the hardships she endured. She had a wicked sense of humor, keeping us all laughing. People were drawn to her open, friendly nature, old and young alike. She did not have children but helped to raise eight nieces and nephews, loving them up and being there for them. She had an extremely sharp mind and a deep memory for things, even up to the end of her life.

She was a trailblazer for women even though she would not think of it that way. She was very independent and that focus, tenacity and determined spirit allowed her to live by herself until her late nineties. She believed women could do anything; no man was to stop her from doing what she intended to do. Or anyone, for that matter. She hunted alone, she fished and spent time on the river boating by herself. She went bungee-jumping at 80 years old. She loved to do crafts and she created excellent beadwork. She loved to read books and would talk about her newest like or dislike. She loved fashion and she dressed to the nines from head to toe, fully color-coordinated, sparkly and dazzling. She loved all of the Hollywood red carpets events on tv. She was a highly talented artist, a natural gift she was born with. She was an avid gardener and delighted in looking after many, many hummingbird families, feeding them in her backyard. She loved to attend powwows and be around her people. She gave us many, many happy times together.

Most of all, our beloved relative gave us her kindness and love. She shared her stories that were filled with many lessons about life. She gave us moments of wonderful delight, interested in what we were all doing and eager to spend time with us all. She loved to be around the young. There she found the energy of her true nature. She enjoyed talking with her neighbors, sharing life's little moments and some became friends. She was compassionate and generous to a fault. She was a beautiful spirit and we will miss her beautiful walk on this earth. She leaves behind her nieces and nephews, her cousins, and her wonderful friends and Jimmy. She often spoke of how grateful she was to have the friends that she had. We are comforted to know that she has joined all those who went before her and she will continue to be around us through her stories and our wonderful memories of her.

Celebration of Life will take place on Saturday, July 8, 2023 at 9:00am at Evergreen Memorial Gardens in Vancouver, Wa. A light reception will follow. Viewing will take place on Friday, July 7th, from 11am-5pm.