January
Victoriana “Vicky” Carlton, of Los Lunas, retired after putting in 35 long years with the Los Lunas Hospital and Training School. She died Nov. 14, 2022.
Beltran “Bert” Chavez, of Belen, worked in the engineering department for the Gas Co. of New Mexico, which eventually became PNM, where he retired after 42 years of service. He died Dec. 14, 2022.
♦Phil H. Martinez Jr., USN (Retired), aka Marty, of Los Lunas, was the proud owner of Marty’s Muffler Shop. He faithfully served in the U.S. Navy for 22 years, serving in Vietnam. Phil was actively involved in the community, working with the Rio Communities Optimist Club and Belen Christian Church. He died Dec. 27, 2022.
Jackson “Jack” Cornelius, of Belen, spent 44 years enjoying his time working for the railroad before retiring in December 1990. He died Dec. 28, 2022.
Philip “Bull” Garcia, of Los Lunas, was a volunteer firefighter, YAFL assistant football coach, and worked for Los Lunas Schools for 19 years. He died Jan. 8.
Albert “Alberto” Chavez, of Veguita, had a 29-year career with the University of New Mexico, and also owned and operated Chavez’s Water Wells and was co-owner of United Septic Pumping. He died Jan. 18.
♦Dennis Allen Raven, of Belen, was a U.S. Navy veteran, a cabinet maker and a licensed minister. He died Jan. 18.
♦Fiorello Casale, age 92, of Rio Communities, was drafted during the Korean conflict and served honorably in the United States Army from August 1951-1953. Fiorello and his wife, Arlene, settled in Rio Communities in 1981, and operated Fiorello’s Restaurant on East River Road for 30 years. He died Jan. 22.
Gerald Lee Cox was a farrier, dairy farmer, logger, bull fighter, guide and outfitter, ranch hand, cattle buyer, bus driver for firefighters and water tanker driver for wildfires. He died Jan. 22.
Albert A. Tapia, of Belen, contributed to numerous charitable animal and preservation organizations in his time. He died Jan. 24.
Carolina B. Cogswell, of Los Lunas, was employed by and retired from Southwestern Bell Telephone after 21 years of service. At the 1960 National Drag Races in Kansas City, Mo., Carolina won her E class race driving a 1952 Studebaker convertible, and is credited with being the first woman to win a nationally-sanctioned drag racing event. She died Jan. 25.
Doris Dolores Martinez, of Belen, was a third-grade teacher for Los Lunas Public Schools since 2006. She died Jan. 26.
Elizabeth Jean Scalf, of Belen, was a member of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary and the Women of the Moose. She was also a member of the Belen Christian Church. She died Jan. 26.
February
Sylvia Lantz, of Bosque Farms, was a member of the Women’s Professional Bowlers Association, participating in several U.S. Opens and tournaments across the United States. She taught Sunday School, Royal Rangers, was active in Bus Ministry, Prison Ministry and hosted Intercessory Prayer. She died Feb. 5.
♦Jimmy Sanchez, of Rio Communities, was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, serving in Vietnam. He was a successful businessman in Belen, specializing in accounting and taxes. He served his community on the Belen City Council, Our Lady of Belen Parish Council, along with other civic organizations. He was a member of the La Merced Moose Lodge 2550, where he was proud to receive the Moose Fellowship Degree of Honor in October 2021. He died Feb. 5.
Miguel Herculano Hidalgo, of Los Chavez, worked on anything with a motor and his latest passion of raising longhorn cattle. He died Feb. 6.
Lily Mudge, of Canyon, Texas, and formerly of Belen, was a devoted employee of the show “TEXAS” for more than 35 years. She died Feb. 8.
♦Richard Curtis Clark, of Belen, served in the U.S. Army and worked for the ATSF railroad for 42 years, retiring in 1995. He died Feb. 9.
Joshua Martinez was an HVAC journeyman, a member of Sheet Metal Local 49. He died Feb. 16.
Jeffrey “Jeff” Eckroth, of Los Lunas, was a machinist and retired from General Electric in 2005. He died Feb. 17.
Beverly Conner, of Rio Communities, was a Rainbow Girl, a member of Debettes and cheer leading in high school, as well as playing the marimba in band. She was a Cub Scout troop leader, and a 30-plus years member of Sewing Club. She died Feb. 19.
Bobbie Ann Sullivan Salaz, of Los Lunas, spent more than 30 years of her life as an educator, first teaching in Cuba, N.M., then in Los Lunas. She retired from the school system after 30 years, but she was always a teacher. She died Feb. 19.
Ruben Jaramillo, of Belen, was a successful business owner of Ruben Jaramillo Plumbing & Heating, serving Valencia County and the surrounding area. Ruben was a member of Our Lady of Belen Catholic Church. He died Feb. 22.
Harold W. Cox III, of Belen, devoted more than 39 years to Burlington Northern Railroad as a locomotive engineer, but most recently he began to enjoy his retirement. He died Feb. 25.
Manforita (Peralta) Gallegos, of Belen, was a member of Our Lady of Belen Catholic Church, and was proud to be a member of the Catholic Daughters of America for more than 45 years. She died Feb. 25.
Mary Edith Romero, of Los Chavez, along with her late husband, Frank, owned and operated Frank’s Septic and Pumping business for many years. She was a devoted member of Our Lady of Belen Catholic Church, the Catholic Daughters of America, and enjoyed being part of the Widow Mights. She died Feb. 25.
Dean J. Sanchez, of Belen, worked as a computer engineer for more than 25 years. He died Feb. 27.
March
Harold Dean Polf, of Los Lunas, was an active member of the Bosque Farms Church of Christ. He died March 8.
Glenda Sue Bussey, of Belen, was employed at Huning LLC and Belen Consolidated School. She died March 9.
♦Albert Leroy “Jake” Jacobs was a tool and die maker for 32 years. He spent almost four years in the military with the U.S. Army as a paratrooper and radio communications chief from 1955-1958. He was a member of Calvary Chapel New Harvest in Los Lunas. He died March 10.
June Henderson-Evanoff, of Peralta, was a member of Rio Grande Valley Church of Christ, in Belen. She died March 12.
Johnny Rumigio Gonzales, of Bosque Farms, retired from JW Jones Construction as a project superintendent. He died March 14.
Salomon “Salo” Moya, of Peralta, retired from Sandia Labs, where he worked as a millwright and, after retirement, helped establish and volunteered for the St. Vincent de Paul Society for 10 years. Salo also helped establish and run the Valencia El Cerro Volunteer Fire Department in the 1970s. He died March 14.
Eligio J. Aragon, of Los Lunas, was an excellent mechanic, and had been flown out to Egypt for a dig and been written up in Archaeology Magazine. He died March 17.
Danny Max Thompson, of Los Lunas, who retired from the real estate industry, was active in the Christian Fellowship Church of Los Lunas. He died March 20.
♦Robert Baca, of Belen, served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He retired from AT&SF Railroad in Belen after 40 years of employment. He was an usher at Our Lady of Belen Catholic Church, a member of the Knights of Columbus, and served on the supervisory committee for the Belen Railway Credit Union for 20-plus years. He died March 21.
Rita Roberta Garcia, of Peralta, taught students in many different Los Lunas Schools in Valencia County, and was co-founder and chief financial advisor of CG’s Concrete, which opened their doors in 2000. She died March 23.
Wanda Louise Truman, of Los Lunas, was big in the rodeo community and enjoyed showing her animals and being part of the Bosque Farms Rodeo queen contest and the Roadrunner’s riding club. She died March 23.
Angela “Angie” Granger, of Peralta, belonged to the Servite Order (Order of Servants of Mary). She spent countless hours volunteering and attending services at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Peralta. She died March 24.
Frank Lopez Jr., of Belen, was a member of Our Lady of Belen Catholic Church, and worked for Belen Consolidated Schools. Frank’s favorite job was working at Frank Lopez Trucking. He died March 24.
♦James “Jim” Nield Chapman, of Los Lunas, was a U.S. Army veteran, started his own business, “B’s Honey Farm” along with his brother, Jerry, supplying New Mexico with natural raw honey. He died March 26.
Theodoro Saavedra Otero Sr. had a 43-year distinguished career with the University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque. He died March 28.
April
Magdalena Maria Rundles, of Belen, served as head nurse of the surgical floor of Presbyterian Hospital in Albuquerque, and donated to the care of stray dogs. She died April 2.
Carol Mioduszewski, of Rio Communities, worked as a bookkeeper and IT manager at Gesu Catholic Church and School in Detroit, Mich., where she was an active member of the Gesu parish. She died April 6.
Ida Sanchez Rios, of Belen, retired as bursar from the University of New Mexico-Valencia campus, where she was employed for more than 30 years. She died April 11.
Jason James Ulibarri, a Belen native, worked as an EMT. He died April 16.
Diana Virginia Martinez Coplen, of Los Lunas, served as the elected Valencia County treasurer. She died April 17.
Curtis Bernard Sanchez, of Los Lunas, was employed by Indian Health Service as a young man and was then transferred to Rockville, MD. After his departure from IHS, he was employed by the Smithsonian Institution. His last position was associate director for Policies and Resources, Office of Contracting and Personal Property Management. He retired in August 2022. He died April 19.
Candelaria “Kandy” Sanchez Cordova, of Rio Communities, served as the Catholic Daughters of America’s state grand regent, president of the Rotary Club and the Greater Belen Chamber of Commerce, served as the Valencia County clerk from 1988 to 2000, New Mexico State representative District 7 from 2001 to 2007, and on boards of several nonprofit organizations. She died April 21.
♦Francis “Frank” Louis Sherman, of Los Lunas, served in the United States Army. He worked for the New York State Department of Corrections for 10 years before he moved to New Mexico in 1970, where he obtained his building contractor’s license. After retiring, Frank was a bus driver for Los Lunas Schools. He died April 21.
Richard “Dickie” Baldonado, of Belen, worked as a corrections officer for several years in the 1980s in Los Lunas and, in 1994, he started his career with the city of Belen and began working as the parks and recreation supervisor and the community services director. He died April 27.
May
Helen T. Goodson, of Belen, worked side by side with her husband, Ray, farming and later owning a ditch-lining business until his death in 1991. She went on to be a pilot car driver. She died May 3.
Brian Joseph Jiron worked at Isleta Casino as a table games dealer. He would then become an officer for both the Bosque Farms and Isleta police departments, where he served for several years. After serving the community, he moved on to the car business and retired after 20 plus years. He died May 3.
Mary A. Roebuck, of Las Nutrias, was a cheerleader and student body president of La Joya High School and graduated with honors. Mary then received a degree from Sacred Heart University and began her career as an executive administrator and spent most of her career working for the federal government. She died May 4.
Duane Wright, of Los Lunas, moved to this area to be the administrator of the nursing home in Belen. He died May 5.
♦Gene Mutchie, a U.S. Navy veteran, worked at the Sandia National Laboratories until he retired from his job after 28 years of service as a specialist in the machinist department. He died May 6.
Hugh Everett Coleman, of Bosque Farms, worked many years in his older brother’s jewelry business in Albuquerque, and then was employed by the United States Postal Service, where he retired. He died May 9.
James “Jimmy” Dean Trujillo, a native of Los Lunas, retired from REDW, LLC, after 39 years. Jimmy was a CPA on the board of directors, and lead of the tax department. He served in leadership in many organizations, including NM Society of CPAs, Delta Dental, NM Amigos, Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce, Robert O. Anderson Foundation, UNM Alumni Association, Leadership NM, NAIOP and UNM Lobo Club. He died May 14.
Mary Catherine Lake Boucher, a longtime resident of Belen, was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star and enjoyed her membership for 79 years. Mary attended Texas Tech, followed by working on the Santa Fe Railroad during the war. Mary was a member of both the First Baptist Church of Belen and Los Chavez Baptist Church. During her membership at the First Baptist Church of Belen, she served as a Girls Auxiliary Missions Leader for young girls. Mary also served as the church historian for several years. She especially enjoyed her Sunday School class at Los Chavez Baptist Church. Mary was accepted into the Daughters of the American Revolution in 2017. She died May 24.
Frank Olguin, of Jarales, worked for the New Mexico Highway Department and retired from the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District. He died May 24.
♦Nicholas “Big Jim” Goodreau, of Los Lunas, was of Lakota Sioux, Hidatsa decent. He served in the U.S. Army, playing on many Army basketball teams. He was a talented artist with many of his paintings hanging in various tribal offices. He died May 25.
Benjamin Thomas Lujan, of Tomé, retired after a 37-year career with the New Mexico Department of Corrections. He died May 30.
June
Benny T. Jaramillo, of El Cerro, was a pharmacist for more than 45 years, having worked at Joe’s, Guggino’s and Walmart. He was a long-time youth soccer coach, winning the Soccer State Cup. He was a life-long member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Peralta, and he and his wife, Bernadette, served as mayordomos and padrinos of the infant baby Jesus He was a member of the Legion of Mary and the Knights of Columbus and served on the cemetery committee. He died on June 3.
Paul Edward “Eddie” Montoya, of Peralta, was employed with Sisneros Bros. Manufacturing in Belen for 26 years. He died June 5.
LaRee Baca, of Belen, was co-owner of the Donut King, along with her mother, Diana Cole, and other family businesses. She was active with her family doing rodeo, karate, soccer, archery tournaments and hunting. LaRee was the assistant coordinator for the Valencia County Rodeo Queen Competition and on the committee for the New Mexico Rodeo Queen Competition. She died June 7.
♦Manuel B. Perea, of Belen, was a U.S. Navy veteran, and was awarded the Nations Service Medal; National Defense Service Medal and Good Conduct Medal (1st Award). He worked for the state of New Mexico for 25 years as a social worker and supervisor in Valencia County, retiring in 1985. He died June 7.
Grace Katherine Sanchez, of Bosque Farms, was active in running her father’s insurance agency — Culver Agency — in Belen. She continued in the insurance business with her daughter in running their own agency, Rio Grande Financial Network, in Los Lunas for more than 23 years. Grace was a member of Valley Lutheran Church; she had been treasurer for more than 40 years and just loved her church family. She died June 9.
Andy V. Ortega, of Belen, retired from Belen Schools after 25 years, and was a member of Our Lady of Belen Catholic Church for 51 years. He died June 16.
Carolyn Elizabeth Fernandez, of Belen, worked at the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District for several years, and volunteered with Meals on Wheels. She died June 17.
Clemente Artiaga, of Los Lunas, was a member of San Clemente Catholic Church. “Clem” was a plumber for 35 years at the Los Lunas Hospital and Training School. He died June 21.
Joyce A. Thomas, of Belen, worked as a zookeeper at the Albuquerque Zoo. She found a long career as an office manager working at Wells Fargo Bank and multiple dairies. She died June 21.
Peter “Pete” William Boccuzzi, formerly of Rio Communities, where he volunteered with the Telephone Pioneers, he worked with a group of fellow techies fixing talking books and building beep-balls (baseball for the blind and visually impaired). He was an active and faithful member of the United Methodist Church, serving as a trustee chairman while they built a new church in Belen. He died June 28.
♦Dylan Keith Arroyo, of Belen, was a United States Marine Corps veteran, and served from 2011 to 2016, earning many decorations and medals, including a National Defense Medal and a Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal. He died June 29.
Lala Garcia Gabaldon (Garcia), of Belen, was a member of the Catholic Daughters, volunteered more than 20 years of service to the Belen St. Vincent de Paul Society, and actively supported the National Alliance on Mental Illness, died June 30.
July
♦Jerry Don Smith, of Peralta, served his country during the Vietnam War and, upon returning, had a 30-plus year career at Sandia National Laboratories. He died July 1.
♦Reuben J. Chavez, of Peralta, served in the U.S. Marine Corp., volunteered at the Los Lunas Fire Department for 17 years, and worked at the Los Lunas Youth Center for several years. He died July 2.
Robert Sullivan, of Los Lunas, worked for First National Bank in Albuquerque, and later for Weststar Mortgage Corporation. He died July 2.
Deacon Michael Alexander Montoya, of Belen, was a deacon at Our Lady of Belen Catholic Church and served his community faithfully for 12 years. He was also employed at New Mexico Orthopedics. He died July 11.
♦Isaac A. Bernal, originally of Belen, was a veteran of the U.S. Army, and retired from the VA Medical Center. He died July 12.
Herbert W. McCants, of Rio Communities, worked as a carpet installer for many years at Carpet Warehouse. He died July 12.
Patricia “Patti” Harris Thompson moved the family to Los Lunas in 1990, when she began serving the community as a home health care nurse for pediatrics and NICU graduates for the next 30 years. She fostered more than 100 children. She died July 12.
Lillian Baca, of Peralta, was a long-time member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, where she served in the Altar Society for more than 50 years, and was president of her ministry for many of those years. She was also a long time First Holy Communion faith formation teacher. She died July 19.
♦Edward “Bub” LeClair Jr. was a decorated veteran who served in the Vietnam war as a U.S. Navy Seabee. He died July 20.
♦Rene Leorase Scott, of Los Lunas, was a military policeman in the U.S. Army and was stationed in Germany and Hawaii. He died July 21.
♦Bruce Wayne Botkin, of Los Lunas, served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1969 to 1970. He died July 28.
Pamela “Pam” Kirkpatrick, of Rio Communities, was a member of The Body of Jesus Christ, a Prayer Warrior, Oasis Family Church and Living Water Fellowship Church. Pam was a founding member of “CMA” Christian Motorcycle Association Victory Rides of Valencia County. She died July 28.
August
Courtney “Flash” Hines, of Los Lunas, was an ASE master technician, who built the largest automotive repair facility in Albuquerque. He died Aug. 4.
Mary Lou Chavez, formerly of Belen, was the executive director of the Greater Belen Chamber of Commerce and helped lead the effort to bring the Farmers Market to Belen. She died Aug. 3.
Frances Sanchez dedicated more than 10 years of service as a bus driver for Belen Consolidated Schools. She died Aug. 6.
♦CMS Basil Edward Lybrand was a U.S. Air Force veteran, was awarded the National Defense Service Medal with one Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, AF Commendation Medal, AF Outstanding Unit Award, AF Good Conduct Medal and Vietnam Service Medal. After retiring from the Air Force, he worked 12 years as a case manager with the New Mexico Department of Corrections. He died Aug. 8.
♦Francisco “Frank” Benigno Baca, of Los Chavez, was a navigator in the U.S. Air Force, educator and farmer. He died Aug. 12.
Katie Bell Mauldin, of Los Chavez, worked in the Bosque Farms Church of Christ food ministries. She died Aug. 13.
♦Reynaldo G. Paez, of Abeytas, was a member of the United States Air Force, Disabled American Veterans Charity, Our Lady of Sorrows and Our Lady of Belen. He died Aug. 16.
♦Henry Jaramillo, of Belen, a member of Our Lady of Belen Catholic Church, served in the Korean War, was a charter member and director of Ranchers Banks of Belen, and served as CEO from 1962-2006. He served as county commissioner of Valencia County and chairman of the New Mexico State Police Board. He was one of the founding members of the Albuquerque Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. He served at the University of New Mexico on the Board of Regents for 12 years, and founded the New Mexico School of Banking at the University of New Mexico in 1974. He served as president of the New Mexico Bankers Association. He became a member of the Governing Board of American Bankers Association. He was a recipient of the National Jewish Lifetime Achievement Award. He died Aug. 20.
Manuel Esquibel, a native of Belen, worked as an engineer at Allied Signal in Phoenix, Ariz., for 25 years before retiring. He died Aug. 21.
♦Lawrence C. Hardy, of Los Lunas, was a veteran of the United States Air Force and a skilled aircraft mechanic. He died Aug. 22.
Jerry L. Garcia, of Los Lunas, owned Jerry’s Barber Shop for more than 50 years in Farmington. He died Aug. 25.
Christopher John Knecht, originally of Belen, was a program manager for Providence Health and Services in Seattle. He died Aug. 25.
Vitalia Chavez worked as a beautician, and helped with the P&M Farm business until she and her husband opened the Pizza Express restaurant, then subsequently Little Anita’s and Route 66 Grill and Gifts restaurants. She died Aug. 28.
Jerred Zamora, of Adelino, was a long-tenured employee for the BNSF Railway and farmer. He died Aug. 29.
♦Rudolf Cavalier, a Belen native, was a disabled veteran of the Vietnam war, having served in the U.S. Air Force, and was a sculptor. He died Aug. 31.
September
Josephine Chavez-Harris, of Peralta, worked as an assistant bookkeeper for Los Lunas Schools while still in high school, and at Sandia National Laboratories for more than 10 years. She died Sept. 3.
Enedina M. Rael, of Bosque Farms, owned and operated Rael’s Grocery and Meat Market in Peralta with her husband, Ramon. She later worked for the New Mexico Department of Human Services, where she retired from. She died Sept. 5.
Orlando Gallegos, of Belen, was known in Belen as a master mechanic and worked at many auto shops. He died Sept. 8.
♦Felix Trujillo, of Belen, was known as “The Million Dollar Man,” served in World War II. He went on to retire from his career as an electrical engineer for PNM. He died Sept. 8.
Ruth Marie Gettings, of Belen, as a member of Women of the Moose. She worked at TG&Y and Blake’s Lotaburger during the day and bartended at night. Ruth then worked at IGA in Belen as the deli manager until she retired. She died Sept. 12.
Delicia “Delly” Sanchez, of Peralta, worked for and retired from Los Lunas Schools. She died Sept. 12.
Cruzanne Dziuk, of Belen, taught at Daniel Fernandez Intermediate until she retired. She died Sept. 22.
Willie Brewster, of Belen, owned a mechanic shop in Albuquerque and assisted many in the community with their vehicles. He was a member of First United Methodist Church of Belen. He died Sept. 23.
Elreena Angela Montoya Gallegos, of Los Lunas, worked as a teacher’s aide in elementary schools and as a child care specialist for the state of New Mexico. She continued her career as a child care specialist in Albuquerque until she retired in 2003. She died Sept. 26.
Priscilla V. Silva, of Tomé-Adelino, was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Tomé. She died Sept. 26.
Jack Williams, of Las Maravillas, retired from the New Mexico Department of Corrections, where, for several years, he served with honor and distinction, making a significant impact as the armory sergeant and being a part of the CERT team. He died Sept. 26.
♦Johnny Sanchez, of Jarales, was a member of Our Lady of Belen Catholic Church and the New Mexico National Guard in Belen for 23 years. He died Sept. 30.
October
♦Francisco R. “Frankie” Esquibel, of Belen, was a member of Our Lady of Belen Catholic Church. Francisco proudly served in the United States Army. He died Oct. 2.
Charlie Myers, of Belen, was recruited to manage the Belen Sale Barn in 1973, and for the last 50 years, was the face of Cattlemen’s Livestock in Los Chavez. Charlie owned two other livestock auctions, a rodeo company (A Rocker Rodeos) and a trucking company. He was an avid supporter of the Valencia County Fair youth. He died Oct. 3.
Shawn Patrick “Shawngo” Ammons, of Rio Communities, was passionate about being involved with the youth in the Belen Parks and Recreation community. He died Oct. 6.
William “Bill” Crow, of Belen, was a member of Bethlehem Lodge 56, Jessamine Chapter #45, the Order of the Eastern Star, was Master of the Masonic Lodge and a past member of the Elks and Sunset Club of New Mexico. He worked with AT&T for 30 years. He died Oct. 6.
Floy Kathy Justus, of Los Lunas, worked at GE Aircraft Engines and retired after 25 years. She died Oct. 9.
Kenneth L. Trujillo, of Belen, worked for the railroad and was active in Our Lady of Belen Catholic Church. He died Oct. 10.
♦Jerry Lee Trout, of Rio Communities, taught mathematics at Tatum High School and Aztec High School while serving in the New Mexico National Guard. He was awarded “Teacher of the Year” during his tenure at Aztec High, and was also awarded the Army Commendation Medal for his exceptional service as plans officer for the 111th Air Defense Artillery Brigade of the New Mexico Army National Guard. He died Oct. 12.
♦Don Yates, of Bosque Farms, was a U.S. Army veteran who served during the Korean war. He was an all-around cowboy and retired from the Farm Bureau Insurance Co. after 35 years. He died Oct. 13.
♦Roland Bazen served four years in the U.S. Navy. He died Oct. 15.
Rosemary Agorichas a member of the First Baptist Church of Los Chavez, was a volunteer at the Belen Area Food Pantry and area nursing homes. She died Oct. 16.
Angie Cano, of Belen, retired after a 17-year career as a corrections officer from the Central New Mexico Correctional Facility in Los Lunas, where she and her late husband, Aveleno, formed support groups for the inmates. She was also a beloved Brownie leader. She died Oct. 16.
Ruth McDaniel, of Peralta, worked in a parachute factory and sold cosmetics at a drug store during World War II. She was a member of the El Jardin Encanto Garden club for 55 years and became a charter member. She became a New Mexico master flower show judge and had lifetime status. She served as the New Mexico State Garden Club district director. Ruth served as the choir director at the Methodist Church for 16 years. She was a founding member and deaconess of the Los Lunas Seventh Day Adventist Church. She died Oct. 16.
♦Herminio P. Molina, of Jarales, worked at Sandia Labs as a millwright for 35 years, worked at the Santa Fe Railroad, and also served in the National Guard for a short time. He died Oct. 18.
Nancy Romero, of Los Lunas, was a member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church. She died Oct. 22.
Salvador Navarrette, of Belen, lived most his life as a farmer, a dairy farmer and worked at SEC Corporation. He died Oct. 24.
November
♦Fabian Daniel Paul Armijo, of Sabinal, N.M., retired from Social Security Administration after 40 years. Fabian also served in the National Guard. He died Nov. 1.
Ana “Anita” Peralta, of Los Lunas, retired from Los Lunas Schools after 30 years. She died Nov. 1.
Celedon Aragón, a native of Valencia, was a physicist, rocket and nuclear scientist and a civil-rights leader advocating for the advancement of Hispanos in New Mexico. He died Nov. 2.
Chris F. Lopez, of Los Lunas, spent most of his life working as a gardener and landscaper, owning and operating a small business, Triple L Landscaping & Maintenance. He died Nov. 2.
♦Gene Marquez, of Belen, served in the Army National Guard, as a police officer for Albuquerque Police Department until retirement in 1984, and then worked for Sandia Labs, where he was a general contractor and then continued with Social Security Administration as a security officer. He died Nov. 2.
Beulah Mae (McDaniel) Wilson, of Belen, was a member of the Belen Coffee Club. She died Nov. 4.
♦Carl Rae Allen, of Bosque Farms, was a U.S. Navy veteran who served during World War II, worked in the insurance field, served as Bernalillo County manager and was mayor in Bosque Farms from 1984-2000. He died Nov. 8.
Albert Romero, of Belen, was a department manager at Walmart for 32 years. He died Nov. 9.
Martin Trujillo, of Los Lunas, was a member of Our Lady of Belen Catholic Church as well as the Elks Lodge, where he was the proud recipient of a Commendation Award for his work with the drug awareness program. He retired from Los Lunas Hospital and Training School after 25 years of service. He died Nov. 9.
♦Jacobo Reynaldo “Jake” Garcia, of Belen, was U.S. Army veteran, having served a total of six years on active duty and in the reserves, both stateside and overseas. He worked in construction, and other jobs, from fixing a car to paving a driveway, before getting permanent employment as a maintenance worker with Computer Sciences Corp, where he retired. He died Nov. 12.
Eduardo “Eddie/Ed” Apodaca Patricio Garley, who owned a jewelry store in Old Town and farmed alfalfa in Abeytas, died Nov. 18.
♦William “Bill” Sullivan, of Belen, enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, where he spent four years as a radar operator. He was employed by Sandia Corporation, and received the Karl Heinz Gyr and Heinrich Landis Commemorative Prize in 1971 by the British Institute Electrical Engineers. He retired from Sandia in 1994. He was a member of the British Car Club of America and in various antique cars with the VMCCA Touring Club. He died Nov. 22.
Patsy Ruth (Bell) Rich, of Bosque Farms, worked for the Los Lunas Schools for many years. She died Nov. 23.
Bernice Faye McNabb, of Belen, worked for Mountain Bell Telephone Company in Albuquerque as a switchboard operator and then ended her career retiring from Los Lunas Hospital and Training School. She died Nov. 26.
Mirella Degano Burke, of Los Lunas, was an Italian immigrant, and taught herself English and quickly assimilated into her new culture. She worked different jobs in the service sector until asked to provide childcare full-time for a family. She died Nov. 27.
♦Ramon Baca, of Belen, was a veteran of the New Mexico Air National Guard. Ramon was a highly-respected farmer in Valencia County, growing mostly alfalfa for hay and corn for silage. He died Nov. 29.
December
♦Tony G. Baca, of Belen, enlisted in the United States Army at age 17 in 1946. He served in the Army until 1951, and received the Overseas Service Ribbon, the National Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, the Army of Occupation Medal-Germany, the World War II Victory Medal and the Army Good Conduct Medal. He taught his children to play and dance and formed The Baca Family Band — Valencia County’s version of “The Partridge Family.” He died Dec. 5.
♦Vincent J. Lardner Jr., of Los Lunas, served two years in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He started Rocky Mountain Stone in 1963, while concurrently running a commercial masonry contracting business, Lardner Masonry. In 1983, he closed down the masonry business to pursue a new venture with New Mexico Travertine, a state-of-the-art natural stone processing facility in Belen. He died Dec. 7.
Sandra Louise Armijo, of Belen, was a member of Our Lady of Belen Catholic Church, where she was a former finance volunteer. After a successful career as a full-time mom, she returned to the workforce in the early 1980s in the banking industry. She had a successful career at Ranchers State Bank and eventually retired from Wells Fargo in 2007. She died Dec. 8.
Brian C. Alexander, of Los Chavez, worked for State Farm Insurance Co. as a claims adjuster for several years before becoming a State Farm insurance agent in Los Lunas. He died Dec. 9.
♦Harold “Tiny” Potter Sr., of Veguita, was a U.S. Army veteran. He retired as an operator from the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, the local 77 out of Seattle, Wash. He died Dec. 9.
Randall Dale Krause, of Belen, was a mechanic, a farmer, a Greyhound bus driver and a truck driver. He died Dec. 12.
Guillermo “Anthony” Baca, of Belen, owned and operated Matador Construction Co. and built and remodeled many residential homes up and down the Rio Grande Valley. He also served one year as an interim pastor for the Cornerstone Church, and was employed by RAKS Building Supply, where he served as an assistant manager. He died Dec. 13.
♦Melvin Boyd Smith, of Los Chavez, was a U.S. Army veteran and joined the service between the Korean and Vietnam conflicts. After the service, he worked for the Santa Fe Railroad, which later became the Burlington Northern Santa Fe for more than 40 years as a car inspector. He died Dec. 17.
Celina G. Archuleta, of Belen, was a long-time educator for Los Lunas area schools, teaching children of all ages and served as the curriculum coordinator for Los Lunas Schools. She died Dec. 19.
The Valencia County News-Bulletin is a locally owned and operated community newspaper, dedicated to serving Valencia County since 1910 through the highest journalistic and professional business standards. The VCNB is published weekly on Thursdays, including holidays both in print and online.
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