Richard John Blang

Richard John Blang, 74, of La Grande, died Sept. 18 after a long illness. A celebration of life will begin at 1 p.m. Monday at Valley Fellowship Church, 507 Palmer St.

Mr. Blang was born Sept. 6, 1932, to John and Alice Wincher Blang in Humberg, Wis. He graduated from Alma Center Lincoln High School in 1950, and served in the Army in Korea.

He married Alice Evelyn Felcan on April 28, 1958. They moved to La Grande in 1974. After a divorce he married Patricia Watkins-Hix on June 28, 1980. He worked for GTE, and retired in 1987. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and the outdoors.

Survivors include his wife of La Grande; children, Pamela Dalling of Salt Lake City, Deborah Zentner of Idaho Falls, Idaho, and Terry Blang of Twin Falls; a step-son, Cully Hix of Lewiston, Idaho; two brothers, James Blang of St. Paul, Minn., and Larry Blang of Blackfoot, Idaho; 10 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Two sisters, Pamela and Debbie, died as infants.