Former Bricelyn resident Leon J. Leland died Sunday, Nov. 10, 2002, in an Aurora, Colo. hospital after a brief illness. A memorial service was held Thursday, Nov. 14, at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Aurora. Burial was in Fairmount Cemetery in Denver.

Memorials can be given to the church.

Leon Junior Leland was born May 30, 1927, in Alden to Leon B. and Alice (Mortvedt) Leland. He attended Bricelyn schools. He served in the U.S. Army shortly after the end of World War II and was stationed in Italy. He married Ann Carney of Albert Lea on March 24, 1956 at East Freeborn Lutheran Church. They farmed in the Bricelyn and Kiester areas before moving in 1961 to Chicago, where Lee began his career with United Airlines. In 1963, they moved to Aurora, Colo., where he worked for United at Denver’s Stapleton Airport until he retired in 1989.

He was a member of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, The American Legion, and the Aurora Elks Lodge No. 1921.

He is survived by his daughter Marcia (Lynn) Monson of Dexter, Mich.; son Michael (Diane) Leland of Wheeling, Ill.; a brother, Everett (Sally) Leland of Bricelyn; sisters Donna Crotty of Great Falls, Mont. and Lori (Dale) Johnson of Red Wing, Loleen (Paul) Anderson of Spooner, Wis.; cousin Ronald Burkhow of Albert Lea; grandchildren Daniel, Andrew and Thomas Monson of Dexter, Mich., and Emma and Erin Leland of Wheeling, Ill.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife and sisters Shirley Franke and Beulah Gilbertson.