Lloyd Warren Barleen

Lloyd W. Barleen, age 93, of Apache Junction, Arizona passed away on April 27, 2014 at Emeritus Memory Care Home in Mesa, Arizona, where a dedicated staff helped him live with Alzheimer's disease for the past six years. Lloyd Barleen was born on the family farm near Norway, Kansas on June 24, 1920. His parents were Charles & Maxie (Loofburrow) Barleen. He attended country school through eighth grade and worked on his parents' farm through the remainder of the depression years. In 1941, he purchased the gas station and tank wagon service in Norway, KS. On May 14 1941, he married Ila Marie Larson of Norway, KS where together they ran the service station business. After World War II, they started a used car dealership.

In 1949, Lloyd and Ila Marie sold the station and purchased the Chevrolet dealership at Riley, KS, making Lloyd the youngest Chevrolet dealer in the Kansas City zone. In 1952, they sold the Riley dealership and purchased the Chevrolet dealership at Waterville, KS. In 1955, they also purchased the IHC franchise operating both dealerships until closing them in 1967. From l964 - 1966, the couple also owned Twin View Lodge, a Canadian fishing resort, where they spent three summers.

In 1967, Lloyd and Ila Marie moved to Topeka, KS, where Lloyd was Vice-president of Frontier Securities and was also employed by American Investors Life Insurance Company. In 1969, they moved to Concordia, KS and later purchased the BelVilla Motel and Restaurant in Belleville, KS. In 1972, they opened a mobile home sales office in Concordia and built mobile home parks in Concordia and Beloit.

Lloyd was raised with a lot of music in his family and it had always been a part-time endeavor. But he now had time to pursue his love of music and he and his family moved to the Missouri Ozarks to do so in 1976. In 1978, they decided to start their own theatre and moved to Estes Park, Colorado for the summer season and also in 1987 to Apache Junction, Arizona for the winter season. Lloyd was active in these theatres until 2004, when he retired from the stage at the age of 84. He made several recordings over the years, beginning in 1939.

Lloyd received numerous awards from his years with Chevrolet, IHC, and American Investors as well as the Pioneer in Country Music Award in Colorado and was a member of the Country Music Halls of Fame in Colorado, Nebraska, and Arizona.

Lloyd and Ila Marie were the parents of eight children, Janice, James, Benton, William, Beth Marie, Barbara, Brenda, and Jeffrey. After 44 years of marriage, Ila Marie passed away May 12, 1985. In 1986, Lloyd married Geraldine Neal of Globe, AZ. She passed away September 15, 2008 after 22 years of marriage.

Preceding him in death were his parents, brothers, George and Ralph, sisters, Mabel Hammer and Hazel Morrow, son, William in 1979 and daughter, Beth in 2009. Survivors include his six children, 23 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren.

Funeral Services will be at 10:00 AM Saturday, May 3, 2014 in the Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Norway, KS with Pastor Thomas Kamprath officiating. Interment will be in the Norway Community Cemetery at Norway. Visitation will be held from 9 AM to 9 PM with family greeting friends from 6 to 7 PM Friday, May 2, 2014 in the Chaput-Buoy Funeral Home in Concordia. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Waterville Opera House Renovation Committee, PO Box 201, Waterville, KS 66548. Condolences may be left online at www.chaputbuoy.com. Chaput-Buoy Funeral Home in Concordia is in charge of arrangements.

Arrangements In Arizona under the direction of Mariposa Gardens Memorial Park and Funeral Care, Mesa, AZ.