Hope Bangs

Alyce (Hope) Bangs, daughter of Walter and Fannie (Miller) Stanbrough, was born on June 15, 1910, in Riverton, Iowa. She passed away on Friday, January 18, 2008, at Northwest Medical Center in Albany, Missouri, at the age of 97.

On September 1, 1927, Hope was united in marriage to Leo (Sonny) Bangs. To this union seven children were born, Mary Jean, Jacquelyn, Joan, Jim, Bill, Dick and Judi. They resided in the Locust Grove community south of Shenandoah on the farm homesteaded by Sonny's grandfather Chester. Hope was always singing around the home as she did her work, in the garden and spending many hours at her sewing machine making clothes for her children. Hope was a 4-H leader, Methodist Youth Fellowship leader and was active in the Women's Society at the Locust Grove United Methodist Church and active in her neighborhood MS Club. Some of Hope's fondest memories of her life in the Locust Grove community were the gathering of the church ladies to prepare all of their crafts, baked goods and garden produce for the Lord's Acre Day Sale and Luncheon at the church. Hope moved to Missouri in 1991 to live close to her daughter, Judi and her family. She had resided at Pine View Manor in Stanberry, Missouri, for the last six and half years of her life. Until the day she left this earth she enjoyed taking part in the activities at the Manor and visiting with her neighbors.

Preceding Hope in death were her parents; her husband of 63 years; daughter, Mary Jean; daughter and son-in-law, Jacquelyn and Kenneth Butt; sons, Jim and Dick; son-in-law, Gary Huston; three brothers and a sister.

Survivors include her children, Joan Huston of Tempe, AZ, Bill Bangs of Spencer, IA, Judi Sinkhorn and her husband Herman of Darlington, MO; daughters-in-law, Francine Bangs of Kalamazoo, MI, Peg Bangs of Garnavillo, IA and Janet Bangs of Fontana, CA; 16 grandchildren; Jackie's children: Rick, Bruce and wife Jean, Randy and wife Tammy, Suzi and husband Jim Livengood; Joan's children: David and wife Rebecca, Carol McKennett and husband Brian, and Eric; Jim's children: Janae, Cheri and Christi; Bill's children: Debbie Thompson and husband Jim; Dick's children: Jeff and wife Cindy, Barbara and husband Jeff and Tracey; Judi's children: Matthew and wife Jennifer and Lori Hope; 30 great grandchildren; several great-great grandchildren; other relatives and many friends. Her smile and her sparkle in her eye will be missed by all that knew this gracious lady.

Funeral services were held on Tuesday, January 22, 2008, at 2:00 p.m. at the Hackett-Livingston Funeral Home in Shenandoah. Words of comfort were given by Pastor Carl Phillips. Musical selections were "How Great Thou Art" and "The Old Rugged Cross". Attending the memory register was Sarah Welchans. Casket bearers were Bruce Butt, Mike Butt, Randy Butt, Greg Butt, Jim Livengood and Herman Sinkhorn. Interment was in the Locust Grove Cemetery in rural Farragut. Memorials in Hope's name are being directed to the Locust Grove Methodist Church.