Beatrice Leota Callen, 82, passed peacefully into the arms of her Heavenly Father on Sunday, September 12, 2021. Born to Ernest Batton and Charles Delores Lancaster on August 11, 1939 in Taft, California, she would be the third of four daughters.
Leota, better known to many as Lee, graduated from Franklin High School in 1957 where she worked on the school paper and had the opportunity to meet President Nixon. After graduation, she briefly attended Albion State Normal School in Albion, Idaho. Leota worked for a telephone company with two of her friends in Stockton, California and she later held a job at Kilpatrick’s Coffee and Vending. In 1960 at a drive- in restaurant in Stockton California, Leota met Robert Callen. The two were married on March 17, 1961 and shared 57 years of marriage prior to Robert’s death in 2018. The couple spent the first half of their marriage in Stockton, California, where they welcomed daughters Lisa, Cristy, and Traci. Robert’s love of hunting and fishing brought the couple to Twin Falls, Idaho in December of 1980. Their home here saw the addition of six grandchildren and became the central meeting spot for family gatherings, birthday parties, and summer functions. Lee’s retirement was spent supporting various sporting and academic events of her grandchildren. She also enjoyed baking, gardening, crocheting, and spending time outdoors. Precious, her teacup poodle, and Poppy, her Shitzu her were the canine loves of her life and she enjoyed many happy years with both of them. Leota’s faith was impressive and she seldom missed Sunday and Wednesday services at the Church of Christ. She found great comfort in the Lord and never failed to offer her prayers for those she felt were in need.
Leota was preceded in death by both of her parents, her husband, and a sister - Gaynell. She is survived by sisters Barbara (Royce) Mayo and Linda Silvani; daughters Lisa Callen, Cristy Callen, and Traci (Derrick) Hanson; “adopted” daughter Penny Dockstader; grandchildren Christopher Callen, Heather Callen, Jon Bowyer, Holli (James) Lusk, Alex Bowyer, and Brianna (Cader) Owen; as well as several great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 2 PM on Friday, September 18, 2021 at Rosenau Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Leota’s name to Camp Rainbow Gold (www.camprainbowgold.org) or The Boys and Girls Clubs of Magic Valley (www.bgcmv.com).
If you like to share a memory of Leota with her family please do by visiting the tribute wall section on this page.
Services entrusted to the care of Rosenau Funeral Home, 2826 Addison Avenue, East Twin Falls, ID.