Buford Morris Hagen

Buford M. Hagen, age 92, of Colorado Springs, CO, passed away on Friday, September 9, 2016. He was born August 20, 1924, in Fertile, Minnesota, the son of Ingvald and Amanda (Erickson) Hagen. In October of 1954, Buford married Gloria Olson in Sissiton, South Dakota; they were married for 45 years.

Buford first worked as a butter maker and won fourth place in butter making, competing against one hundred butter makers in the state. He moved into the construction field in which he drove a Euclid with seven-foot-tall tires and then driving his own semi-truck. He hauled Caterpillar tractors and motor graders from Chicago and Peoria, IL, to such places British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Manitoba, Alaska and the west coast of the US. Many times Gloria would accompany him. Buford and Gloria moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan, where they lived for more than 30 years. Buford worked for the University of Michigan in air-condition maintenance for 3 years before becoming a “Specialty Driver”. As a driver he drove busses and limousines. He often drove former U of M President, Dr. Hatcher, to the Detroit Airport for a morning flight to Washington D.C. and picked him up in the evening after the return flight. Buford chauffeured other passengers such as President John F. Kennedy, Sargent Shriver, and Gregory Peck and his wife (twice). Buford was proud of driving two and one-half million miles without a ticket or an accident. He loved the people and enjoyed his work. Buford loved to hunt and fish. He spent his last years in Colorado Springs, CO, where he loved the not so cold winters and the view of the mountains.

Surviving Buford is his sister Goldie Hagen of Detroit Lakes, MN, and several nieces and nephews. Buford was preceded in death by his parents and wife, one sister Adeline Brehm and two brothers, Ivey and Conway Hagen. Cremation has taken place. Private funeral services will be held followed by interment at Oakwood Cemetery, Saline, Michigan.

Arrangements under the direction of Memorial Gardens Cemetery & Funeral Home, Colorado Springs, Colorado.