Bryan K Hafen

Bryan K Hafen passed away on Wednesday, September 13, 2017 at his home in

Mesquite, Nevada following a several year battle with Parkinson’s disease and a stroke.

Bryan Hafen was born April 10, 1938 in St. George, Utah, the third son of Max and

Estelle Bowler Hafen. He was a lifelong resident of Mesquite and grew up working on

the family farm with his father and brothers. Bryan attended Virgin Valley Elementary

and High School and attended what is now Southern Utah University where he met his

sweetheart Dawn Nelson.

Bryan loved agriculture, working with the cattle and growing alfalfa and other crops.

As a result of his love of farming, Bryan was active in the Future Farmers of America (FFA)

and was chosen as the Nevada State Future Farmers of America President his senior year

of high school, he was then selected to serve as the National FFA Vice President for the

11 Western United States. During these travels he was able to meet several key industrial

and business leaders, highlighted by a visit to the White House and meeting President

Dwight D. Eisenhower.

These experiences sparked interests beyond agriculture and led to the decision to run for

and win a seat in the 1960 Nevada State Assembly at age 22. He was the youngest

person ever elected at that time to the legislature. During the 1960’s he served 4 terms in

the legislature losing only the 1964 election as a result of the Johnson landslide. Bryan

was proud to be a native Nevadan and had a great love for Mesquite. Following his

service in the Nevada legislature, he focused entirely on the family’s dairy and farming

operations, trying to take more of the load from his father, helping to expand the dairy

herd and acquiring additional land for the farming operations. In 1974, he was selected

as 1 of 4 Outstanding Young Farmers in the United States. A big thanks goes to

Humberto Lara, Clemencio Rangel, Lynn Duke, LaVoy Hafen, Oscar Christensen, and

the Marden Spencer family as well as many others who were so vital to the success of

Hafen Dairy.

Bryan was preceded in death by his parents Max and Estelle Hafen, daughter-in-law

Kimberly Overson Hafen and grandson Maxwell Cody Hafen. He is survived by his

devoted wife Dawn Nelson Hafen and his sons Nelson (Laurel), Derek (Kim), Kraig

(Susan), Merlin (Victoria), Tilman (Jennifer) and brothers Tim (Janet), Gary (Monta),

and Doug (Ann) and sister in law Lora Dee Christensen of Las Vegas. He is also

survived by 24 grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at the Mesquite LDS Stake Center on Arrowhead Lane,

Saturday, September 16th at 12 noon. Viewings will be held on Friday, September 15th at

the Mesquite Stake Center from 6-8:00 p.m. and on Saturday, September 16th from 10-

11:30 a.m. The family invites friends and family to leave a message or memory on their

"Guest Book" at virginvalleymortuary.com.

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