Betty Arlene Hagan, 92, passed away peacefully on October 27, 2018. Funeral services will be held at 11:30 am Wednesday, October 31, at McLaren's Funeral Chapel with burial at Resthaven Cemetery. Visitation will be from 10 am until service time on Wednesday morning at McLaren's.
Betty was born on her mother's birthday in 1925 on a farm near Saline, Missouri. She was the eighth of nine children born to Elza Austin Putnam and Ruth Stratton Putnam. She graduated from Princeton High School in Princeton, Missouri, in 1943.
Very shortly after graduation she moved to Des Moines. Her first job was a quality inspector working for the Des Moines Ordnance Plant, a manufacturer of .30 and .50 caliber bullets used during WW II. She later was employed as an office clerk at Iowa-Des Moines National Bank and Equitable Life Insurance Company. Betty married her high school sweetheart, Lloyd Irvin Hagan, in 1945. When their first child was born, she became a full-time homemaker.
In 1958, Betty returned to the workforce as a sales clerk in the French Room at Younkers Department Store. In 1965 she began working as an administrative assistant at Wakonda Golf and Country Club. She enjoyed this job immensely and remained there for 26 years retiring in 1991.
Betty had a special talent for growing vegetables and beautiful flowers, and this became her lifelong hobby which she shared with her husband. She and Lloyd also enjoyed traveling and made numerous trips visiting more than twenty-five states, several Caribbean Islands, Mexico, and Europe. On many of their driving trips, they visited antique stores collecting vintage Depression glass.
Betty was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother and loved her family deeply and unconditionally. She greatly enjoyed the special times spent caring for her grandson and great-grandsons. She has left behind many wonderful memories for her family to share. Most notable were Betty's signature apple pie; and her and Lloyd's fun "not to be missed" annual Christmas family dinner.
Betty is survived by three children, Rodney J. (Cynthia) Hagan, Rick Hagan, Judy Hagan (John) Huhn; grandson, Rodney E. (Sara) Hagan; great-grandsons, Gregory, Carson, and Brady; step-granddaughters, Kendall (Chad) Herman and Erin (Abram) Sloss and their children; brother, Dennis Putnam; as well as many extended family members. She was preceded in death by her husband of 70 years, Lloyd, both parents, and seven siblings.
The family wishes to thank Betty's many wonderful caregivers at Urbandale Health Care Center. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to EveryStep Hospice.
