Leland Boyd Jones

Leland Boyd Jones

November 21, 1935 – June 17, 2024

Leland Boyd Jones passed away peacefully on Monday, June 17, 2024 at the age of 88.

The Early Years:

Lee was born on November 21, 1935 to Helen and Boyd Jones in their small house in Pilger, Nebraska. Lee was the second child, with an older brother, Don, and younger brother, Larry. He loved spending time playing football, basketball, and flying kites.  Between the eighth grade and senior year in high school, Lee moved between Pilger, Nebraska and Loveland, Colorado where he enjoyed playing basketball, football and participating in track.  While living in Colorado, he helped his parents at their motel in Big Thompson Canyon and rode his horse, Pal.  He would sometimes take hotel guests for a ride or have all-day riding adventures with neighbor friends.  He was salutatorian for his high school graduation in 1953 and planned to attend the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

University of Nebraska-Lincoln and ROTC:

Lee immediately joined the Navy ROTC at UNL. His favorite memories were the summer cruises, including the USS New Jersey; attended classes and flew at the Naval Air Station in Corpus Christi, TX; rode out hurricane “Connie” near Norfolk, VA where his compartment mates were “making a real mess of the place”; volunteered on the USS Nautilus; and his last summer was aboard the USS Ellison. During his time at UNL, Lee graduated “with Distinction” and was voted the best Navy ROTC graduate for which he received the Naval Officer’s sword.

Navy Supply Corps and Meeting Valerie:

Following his commissioning in the Navy Supply Corps as an Ensign, he drove to Athens, GA for six months of supply training. He met University of Georgia sophomore Valerie Soule at a group picnic at the river. Following the training, Lee was assigned independent duty on the USS Colahan, a destroyer in San Diego. Lee was quickly promoted and assigned to be an instructor at the Navy Supply Corps School where he returned to Athens, Georgia in November 1959. After re-connecting at the University of Georgia, Lee and Val were married in July 1960. Marrying Val, Lee said: “It was the beginning of the best deal I ever had!”

Tours of Duty:

Some of Lee’s best memories were of their time as a family on their many tours of duty, including London, England; Charleston, South Carolina; Holy Loch, Scotland; Ann Arbor, Michigan to complete his Masters of Business Administration; Huntsville, Alabama; returned to Charleston, South Carolina and finally Oakland, California where he retired in 1977 after 20 years serving in the Navy.  They had their four children during this time (Daniel, Andrew, Deborah, and Stephanie) and enjoyed many camping trips around Europe and within the US.

Navy retirement and a second career:

While planning his next life chapter, Lee took the LSAT for law school. Val and Lee decided to raise the kids in Aurora, Nebraska and Lee would attend the University of Nebraska Law School in Lincoln. Following, Lee worked as an attorney at Adams, Carstenson, Owens and Jones law firm in Aurora, Nebraska.  The family enjoyed many trips to Breckenridge, Colorado to ski or hike. Many summer memories were made water skiing at Johnson Lake near Lexington, Nebraska with the extended Jones family.

After 17 years of practicing law, Lee was ready to retire and they decided to move to Kalispell, Montana, next to their son Dan and wife, Ginny. They refer to the building of their log home, “Moose Manor” as their “Greatest Adventure”.  They provided bed and breakfast and enjoyed being tour guides to many friends over the years; and celebrated 50 years of marriage with family at the house and in Glacier National Park.

Their last move was near Offutt Air Force Base in 2013, centrally located to kids and grandchildren, and the benefits of living near a base. They made many trips to the base, enjoyed an air show with the Blue Angels, met new friends at Chapel, enjoyed lovely supportive neighbors, and enjoyed several holidays in Kearney.

Lee is survived by his wife, Valerie Jones; son Dan Jones and Virginia of Montana, and grandchildren: Casey Stahl [wife Emily, great-grandchildren Miles and Lily], Amber Campbell [great-grandchildren Bryce and Alexis O’Neal], Lauren O’Connell [husband Luke, great-grandchildren Abbi, Caleb, Maverick, and Teagan], and Clarke Jones; son Andrew Jones and Vivi of Montana and grandchildren: Matthew and Joshua Jones, Shannon Hargreaves [husband Brandon, great-grandchildren Brielle, and Ariana], AJ Jones [wife Emily and great-grandchild Lucas], Ashley McKay [husband Ian], Tayler McNamara [husband Sean and great-grandchildren Evan, Brooklyn, and Parker]; daughter Deborah Bridge and Greg of Nebraska and grandchildren Aaron Bridge [wife Clare, great-grandchild Jane], and Emily Bridge; and daughter Stephanie Ellis of Ohio and grand-children Hugo, Oliver, and Henry Ellis; brother Larry Jones and Bev of Colorado – niece Michelle Jones, nephew Mike Jones and wife Sally; nieces Carolyn Jones and Laurie Vasquez of Arizona, niece Susan Semla and husband Todd of Illinois, and nephew Phil Jones and wife Pat of Minnesota; cousin Kathy Larson and husband Joe of Nebraska.

Lee was preceded in death by parents, Boyd and Helen Jones of Aurora, Nebraska; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Vance and Helen Soule of Dunwoody, Georgia; brother Don Jones and wife Jody of Carroll, Iowa; niece Elizabeth Jones of Carroll, Iowa; great-grandchild Michael Bridge of Lincoln, Nebraska.

The family wishes to thank the many dedicated care staff at First Light Home Care, Freedom In-Home Services, St. Croix Hospice, Sarpy County VA, Bellevue VA Clinic, and Omaha VA Hospital.

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Funeral and Burial Service on Monday, July 22, 2024

10:30 am:  Funeral service at Heafey, Hoffmann, Dworak, and Cutler Funeral Home., 7805 W. Center Rd., Omaha 68124

2:30 pm:  Burial service with full Military Honors at Omaha National Cemetery, 14250 Schram Road, Omaha 68138.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in honor of Leland B. Jones to: St. Labre Indian School, P.O. Box 216, Ashland, Montana 59003-9989, https://www.stlabre.org/ or to Fontenelle Forest, 1111 Bellevue Blvd N, Bellevue, NE 68005, https://fontenelleforest.org/support.

To view live broadcasts of the Funeral Service and Graveside Service, please visit www.heafeyheafey.com and click the “Live Cast” button at the top of the home page.