Jason Erling Tangen

A light in our lives has been dimmed and our hearts are broken as we mourn the loss of our beloved son, brother, uncle, nephew, cousin and friend.



Jason Erling Tangen was born April 3, 1972 in Bellevue, WA and died September 20, 2020 in Bozeman, MT after a brief illness. He grew up in Beaverton, Oregon, graduating from Beaverton High School In 1990. Jason then attended the University of Montana (UM) in Missoula, and as part of his UM experience studied abroad in Munich and Vienna. In 1998, he graduated from the UM with a degree in History and Political Science.



He made his career selling software products for companies including RightNow, Concur, Oracle and Scandit affording him new challenges and opportunities. His jobs allowed him to live a decade in Munich, London, Barcelona, and Oslo before returning to his beloved Montana. Jason also travelled throughout Europe and North Africa. Throughout his travels, he made friends at every stop.



Jason had an incredible zest for life, and he would do or give anything to help others. He was an enthusiastic outdoorsman who loved to fish, especially the Gallatin and Madison Rivers plus Park Lake in Helena and hunt in the mountains and valleys of western Montana. He also enjoyed skiing and exploring open beautiful spaces.



Hobbies included collecting family heirlooms made richer knowing their histories and provenance. Jason appreciated genealogy and tracing his relatives from Norway; he was proud of being a fourth generation Norwegian American. Jason was a great cook, turning everyday ingredients into gourmet plates. As a sports fan, he cheered for the Montana Grizzlies and the Oregon Ducks.



He had a booming laugh, engaging smile, larger than life presence and sharp sense of humor that made him unforgettable to those that had the privilege of meeting and knowing him. His cheerful positive attitude was contagious, and he found pleasure in even the smallest activities. Friendships were essential to the core of his life’s journey. Those special relationships included the four legged variety; Jason was never without a dog.



Jason was taken from us far too soon, leaving trails not hiked, fish not caught, sporting games not watched and memories with laughter not made. But the life he had was packed with amazing adventures and good times peppered with the love of his family, friends, and animals. Our lives are much richer from having his in ours.



Survivors include his parents, Jim and Jan Tangen, Arvada, CO, brother Jamie Tangen and nieces Sarah and Hannah, also of Arvada, Aunt Jean (Dennis) Braun of Helena, MT, Uncle Kip (Lynda) Vandeventer of Gig Harbor, WA, Aunt Judy O’Looney (Bill Cogswell) of Olympia, WA, cousins Justin (Laura) Braun of Montana City, MT, Stephanie Braun of Meridian, ID, Kate (Aaron) Manley of Olympia, WA, Jill (Kyle) Sturrock of Gig Harbor, WA, Michael (Bridget) Vandeventer also of Gig Harbor, Norwegian relatives Erik and Catherine Winther-Sorensen, special friend Sarah Burke of Bellevue, ID and faithful dog Pudge.



He was preceded in death by grandparents, Erling and Ethel Tangen, Helena, MT, and grandmother Audrey Vandeventer, Olympia, WA.



Donations in Jason’s memory are suggested to: Heart of the Valley Animal Shelter, P.O. Box 11390, Bozeman, MT 59719.



Due to COVID-19, services will be held at a later date.