Obituary - Teresa Ann McAllister Spangelo

It is with great sadness that we want to announce the passing of Teresa Ann McAllister Spangelo.

Teresa passed away March 18, 2023, in Great Falls, MT after a brief battle with cancer. She was surrounded by her loved ones.

Teresa was born on April 22, 1953, in Great Falls, MT and grew up in Havre, Montana, with her parents, Alphonsus "Mac" and Shirley McAllister, and her sister, Kathy. She graduated Havre High School in 1971. After graduation, Teresa enlisted in the United States Air Force and served in Turkey, Spain and Alaska.

After leaving the Air Force, Teresa made her way back home to Havre, Montana. There she fell in love with James Waldo Spangelo, a young attorney she knew from high school. They were married in Idaho February 8th, 1982. Later that year, Teresa and James welcomed their daughter into the world and a few years later they welcomed their son, completing their family.

The following years were filled with love as her house was full of friends and family. Teresa was an active Scout leader with her longtime friend Eileen Hoppe. She was the mom who would fix her children's friends' hair on the way to soccer pictures, feed the whole neighborhood snacks, and offer to be anyone's emergency contact. She ran a tight ship with humor and sass. There was no holiday, birthday, or trip she would not threaten to cancel at least once but never did.

She graduated with her teaching degree from Northern Montana College and had the opportunity to teach over the years at the East End Colony, on Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation and Havre High School. Teresa dedicated her life to teaching and was passionate about her work at Havre High School in special education. She was fiercely protective of her students and loved each one like they were her own. Over the years when the subject of retirement would be brought up, Teresa would always say "just a few more years, I need to make sure that this class of kids gets though school." Every year there was a new class of kids that she would want to get through school. Teresa left a positive mark on every student who walked into her classroom.

Teresa is proceeded in death by her parents, Mac and Shirley McAllister, and the great love of her life, James Spangelo. She is survived by her sister, Kathy, and her husband Glenn Carlson of Great Falls, Montana; her daughter, Rachael, her partner, Devin Hrdy, and their daughter Cattleya of Plains, Kansas, and son Peter James and his wife, Magdalina Spangelo, of Al Zour, Kuwait, as well and nieces, nephews, their families, and friends that were like family.

The family would like to thank all the people who loved and helped our mother through the years, especially Scott and Kari Filius and Eileen Hoppe. As well as all the friends that made her life wonderful and exciting. We know that she would never have traded her time in Havre and at Havre High School for the world and for that we will be eternally grateful.

Memorial services will be held at 2:30 p.m. Friday August 4, 2023, at First Lutheran Church in Havre, Montana. Coffee and cookies to follow the service in the Fellowship room. In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations are made to the Teresa Spangelo Memorial Endowment.