TRIBUTE TO PAUL JOSEPHUS RANGEN,
BY ESTELLE AND JOSEPH RANGEN
Paul was a man of intense loves.
His greatest passion was expressed in his love for Jesus Christ.
Paul loved his wife..., his sons..., and his daughter...Paul believed with all his heart Ephesians 5:25 and 6:4: "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the Church and gave Himself up for her...Fathers, do not exasperate your children, instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord."
Rangen was born March 2, 1950 to the Rev. Joseph and Estelle (Stadem) Rangen in Eau Claire, Wis. He graduated from Hillcrest Lutheran Academy, Fergus Falls, Minn. and Brown Institute in Radio-Television Broadcasting in Minneapolis, Minn.
On October 18, 1975, Rangen married...They lived in Minot, N.D., where he worked for KHRT Christian Radio. They moved to Olympia, Wash., and later Salem, Ore., where he worked for KCCS Christian Radio and other Christian stations.
In 1985, he and his family moved to Havre, where he was Assistant Manager/Announcer at KXEI Christian Radio until his death.
Survivors include his wife...daughter...two sons...his parents...three sisters,...numerous nieces and nephews. He was a member of the Big Sandy Community Church...Memorials may be made to KXEI, Your Network of Praise Radio Station, P.O. Box 2426, Havre, Mt 59501, or the Lutheran Brethren Schools, 815 West Vernon Ave., Fergus Falls, MN 565637.*
From "easy listening music" Paul Rangen naturally gravitated to a more concentrated Christian music and message programming that KXEI broadcast to an ever-increasing market and radio audience in the midst of the Big Sky Country of Montana.
The Christian programming penetrated even into the prison wards across the state, and brought convicts to a saving knowledge of Christ.
No doubt Paul Rangen will be sorely missed at KXEI, but his solid contributions to a thriving Christian radio ministry will continue to bless many thousands in years to come. Paul Rangen left an enduring legacy not only his family and friends will treasure, but it is one in which an entire state has shared.
Lastly, it should be noted that Paul Rangen loved to communicate his faith in God to loved ones, church, and community. A son told at the funeral how his father led him to the Lord.
Paul also served in his local church as a leader of Bible classes. There is every indication that Paul's faith bore much fruit in his rather short life, perhaps more than thirty-fold, or even sixty-fold, and quite possibly even as high as one hundred-fold.
It was also very encouraging to us here at the Plain View Farm family of websites that Paul Rangen visited us a number of times, downloaded the entire sites for his parent to read and enjoy, and then visited Plain View Farm with his son and parents for a reunion the last year or so of his life.
There is a photo in our website portfolio of h a boy riding a tourist site statue of a giant pheasant with a solemn expression. Whether that was really him in the picture or a lookalike boy, that was the essence of fun-loving Paul Rangen!
With his merry heart and love for life, the solemnity of his expression was only skin-deep!
Farewell, Cousin Paul!--Editors