Leland Gary Hagen, 84, of Bryan, passed away on Saturday, January 28, 2017, at Generations Health Care Facility in Bryan. A Memorial Service honoring his life will be at 11 am on Thursday, February 2, 2017, at the funeral home. Cremation services are in the care of Callaway-Jones Funeral and Cremation Centers-Bryan/College Station. Inurnment will be at later date in Austin, Texas.
Leland was born April 28, 1932, in Dunseith, North Dakota. He joined the Air Force in 1951 at 18 years of age. He received basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. While stationed at Bryan Air Force Base he met and married the love of his life, Betty Jo Kellett, in 1953. Their first son, David Wayne, was born in January 1955 and their second son, Bruce Alan, was born in August 1959.
Over his twenty-two year Air Force career Leland volunteered as a Scout leader and basketball coach. He was active in the Masonic Lodge in Big Springs and Anchorage, Alaska and was a 32nd Mason. Leland’s Air Force tours included duty in Texas, Alaska, Utah, Florida, and France. Following retirement in 1972, Leland an Betty Jo moved to Austin where he finished his education and worked in Civil Service at Bergstrom AFB in the account and finance office for twelve years. In 1984, they moved to Ramstein, Germany where Leland worked in accounting and finance at the Laundstuhl Hospital and Betty worked in Civil Service. After a year, they moved to Fairford, England for three years where Betty accepted a position as Housing Officer for the Fairford Royal Air Force. Leland worked as a Test Examiner at the Air Force Base.
After six years oversees they returned to Austin, Texas to meet their new granddaughter, Allison Amy who was born in 1990. After two years at Bergstrom AFB, they moved to Washington D.C. for a year where Betty served in the Pentagon as Housing Management Specialist in Civil Engineering. After his second retirement, Leland volunteered for the next twelve years at the Pharmacy and Eye Clinic at the Veteran’s Clinic. In 2006, they relocated to Bryan to be near other friends and family members where Betty Jo grew up.
Leland is survived by his wife, Betty Jo of sixty-three years; son Bruce and wife Penny; his one and only granddaughter Allison Amy, whom he loved; one sister Joyce Evans of Dunseith, ND; a brother Thomas and wife Dot, of Arizona; and other family and close friends.
Leland is preceded in death by his son David Wayne in 1977; his parents Thomas and Agnes (Melhus) Hagen; his brothers Alfred, Lawrence, and Orvin; his sisters Helen Nelson, Lorraine Hogue; and Thelma Johnson.
In lieu of flowers the family request donations to Hospice Brazos Valley, 502 West 26th Street, Bryan Texas 77803
Express condolences at CallawayJones.com
We pray the love of God ( Psalms 83:18) enfolds you during your journey through grief. The Bible urges us to pray regularly continually, thanking God for his goodness to us and looking to him for guidance, comfort, and strength. 1 Th. 5:17. We send you thoughts of comfort and the hope of one day seeing your loved one again. Acts 24:15.