Obituaries (March 31)

Henry Richard “Hank” Apodaca

1932-2022

Henry Richard “Hank” Apodaca passed away on March 21, 2022, surrounded by his family after a long battle with cancer.

He was born on Christmas day in 1932 to Louisa and Frank Apodaca in Albuquerque. Henry was a mail carrier for USPS and a hard-working farmer and rancher. He loved working on the farm, ranch, raising animals, fishing, hunting and later, traveling with the love of his life, Dolly.

He is preceded in death by his mother and his father, two children, Frank and Diane Apodaca; son-in-law, Roland Sanchez; granddaughter, Jessica Molina; and great granddaughter, Mariah Hildalgo; two sisters, Iris Alford and Rosella Vigil; brothers-in-law, Gillie, George, Billy and Milton Gabaldon, Filo Sedillo, Alfred Alford and Isidro Vigil, Leon Prevot and Joe Gallegos; sisters-in-law, Annie Gallegos, Mercedes Ethridge, Felice Prevot, Corine Sedillo, Peggy Apodaca and Joyce Apodaca.

He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Dolores (Dolly); children, Henry Apodaca (Cissy), Janet Sanchez (Michael) and Rose Apodaca Molina; seven grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren; brothers, Alfred and Gilbert Apodaca; brother-in-law, Eugene Gabaldon and wife, Gloria; sisters-in-law, Loretta Gabaldon, Lala Gabaldon and Geraldine Gabaldon; along with many nieces and nephews and longtime friends.

Services were held at Our Lady of Belen Catholic Church on Monday, March 28. Burial followed at the Our Lady of Belen Memorial Cemetery.

Pallbearers were Richard Apodaca, Roland Sanchez, Johnny Apodaca, Frank Apodaca, Andy Molina and Camren Hildalgo.

The family wishes to extend their gratefulness and appreciation for all of the care and support Henry was given.

Arrangements were handled by the caring professionals at the Noblin Funeral Service Belen Chapel, 418 W. Reinken Ave., 505-864-4448, where an online guest register is available at noblin.com.

 

Margaret Baca

1929-2022

Margaret Baca, a resident of Belen, passed away at home on Tuesday, March 22, 2022.

Margaret was born to Manuel De Atocha Perea and Maria Barela Perea on Feb. 15, 1929, in Belen. Raised in Belen, Margaret graduated from Belen High School in 1947 and went to secretarial school in Albuquerque. She worked as a secretary for the superintendent of Belen Consolidated Schools.

In 1950, she was swept away by her handsome husband, Patrick Baca, who was working then as a county agent in Socorro County. In 1951, they wed in Belen. Patrick was called to duty during the Korean War and stationed for a year at Pearl Harbor.

When the war ended, the couple moved back to Socorro, where they lived for 19 years. They had seven children, five boys and two girls. In 1970, they moved to the family farm in Belen and raised cattle.

Margaret loved being a homemaker and raising her children. She had a green thumb and enjoyed being outside, watering her plants. She only knew how to make meals to feed a large crowd and collected battalion-sized pots and pans. She was an impressive seamstress and created anything from beautiful wedding dresses to warm blankets for her family.

When Patrick died in 1986, she decided she had no choice but to keep working the farm. Her sons taught her how to drive a tractor, plow and mow the fields, irrigate and chop her own wood. She jokingly said she went from Betty Crocker to Farmer Jones. It was hard work and she learned to enjoy it. She was smart and often worked as a substitute teacher in the Belen junior and high schools.

She spoiled her 17 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren with love and attention. Margaret insisted on watching all of them when their parents went to work. When it was time to leave their Gram’s house, they would beg to stay over for a slumber party to make forts with her afghans, and eat cookies and popsicles.

Margaret made every family gathering special, but the most important to her was Christmas Eve. Santa’s visit for her grandchildren was a tradition she lived for! Her large and loving family will miss her forever, along with her adored chickens.

Margaret was a devout Catholic, devoted to our Sorrowful Mother and prayed her rosary multiple times a day. Her faith in God was truly amazing! She was a member of Our Lady of Belen Catholic Church in Belen.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Manuel De Atocha Perea and Maria Barela Perea; brothers, Donicio Perea, Dennis Perea and Ernest Perea; sisters, Jesusita Perea, Rosalita Perea, Mary Carrejo, Mable Storey and Rosalyn Gonzales; loving husband, Patrick Baca Sr.; sons, Patrick Baca Jr. and Joseph Baca; and great-grandson, Mateo David.

Margaret is survived by her brother, Manuel Perea; children, Adrian Baca (Rose), Anna Baca, Barbara “Boo” Snow (Nathan), Martin Baca (Carolyn) and Gilbert Baca (Charlene); daughters-in-law, LuAnn Baca and Carolyn Baca; her 17 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.

Services were held on Friday, March 25, at Our Lady of Belen Catholic Church.

Arrangements were handled by the caring professionals at the Noblin Funeral Service Belen Chapel, 418 W. Reinken Ave., 505-864-4448, where an online guest register is available at noblin.com.

 

Mark Oliver Braddock

1941-2022

Mark Oliver Braddock passed from this world at 4:30 p.m., Sunday, March 6, 2022.

Mark, or “Mo,” as he was known to his closest friends, was born on Tuesday, Dec. 16, 1941, in Austin, Texas. He graduated from high school in Alamogordo in 1960.

He then moved to Albuquerque, met and later married Wanda Elaine Forney on July 19, 1962. They had two children, a girl, Dana Lynn, and a boy, Obie Darrell.

After working as a grocer for several years, industrious Mark started a very successful cleaning products business that supported his family through retirement. Mark was a beloved, faithful member of the Rio Grande Valley Church of Christ in Belen for 30 years, and his first love was his Lord, Jesus.

Mark was preceded in death by his daughter, Dana; his son, Obie; and his wife, Wanda.

He is survived by a sister, Jacqueline Craig, of Plano, Texas; two grandchildren, Amy Urquijo and Adam Braddock; great-grandchildren; as well as multiple friends and church members from all over the country.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m., Thursday, April 7, at Noblin Funeral Service, 418 W. Reinken Ave. in Belen.

Please visit our online guestbook for Mark at FrenchFunerals.com. FRENCH – University, 1111 University Blvd. NE, Albuquerque, N.M., 87102, 505-843-6333.

 

Joan Alice Brookhart

1934-2022

Joan Alice Brookhart, age 88, a resident of Belen, passed away on Friday, March 18, 2022.

She was a member of St. Peter and Paul Roman Catholic Church in Albuquerque. Joan was a wonderful wife and mother to her seven children and numerous foster children. She managed to get a BA in nursing while caring for her home and children.

Joan is preceded in death by her parents, Raymond and Dorothy Hubley; former spouse, Anthony John Stanislawski; brother, Raymond Hubley Jr.; daughter-in-law, Lucretia Stanislawski; and grandson, Jacob Morris.

She is survived by her loving husband, John Brookhart; brother, Gary Hubley, of Appleton, Wisc.; seven children, Michael (Susan), of Castle Rock, Colo., Mark, of Belen, Paul (Susan), of Rio Rancho, Thomas Stanislawski (Kelly), of Snowflake, Ariz., Mary Moffat, of Belen, Teresa Holtze (Dean), of Los Lunas, and Anne Rutz (Dennis), of LaCrosse, Wisc.; brother-in-law, Robert J. Brookhart, of Orleans, Mass.; many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

A public viewing will be held at 8:30 a.m., Saturday, April 2, at St. Peter and Paul Roman Catholic Church, followed by a Rosary to be recited at 9 a.m. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 9:30 a.m.

Please sign Joan’s online tribute at romerofuneralhomenm.com. Romero Funeral Home, 609 N. Main St., Belen.

 

Rosa Chavez

1928-2022

Rosa Chavez, 93, of Belen, passed away in the hospital in Albuquerque on March 15, 2022.

She was born on July 19, 1928, in Manzano, N.M., to Thomas Zamora and Rita Romero Zamora. Rosa was a life-long member of the Roman Catholic Church.

Rosa loved camping and fishing at the ranch, spending time with her children and grandchildren, and crocheting. She also liked going to the casino and playing Loteria.

If you ever went to her house, she made sure you ate before you left. She married Salomon Chavez on Aug. 7, 1947, in Punta de Agua, N.M.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 50 years, Salomon Chavez; her daughters, Tony Chavez, Sara Chavez and Corrine Lopez; granddaughter, Monica Chavez; daughter-in-law, Gloria Chavez; son-in-law, Richard Lopez; five brothers, Candelario, Juan, Luis, Benjamin and Antonio Zamora; and one sister, Estella Zamora.

She is survived by her son, Orlando Chavez, of Belen; daughter, Beatrice and husband, Jerry Harrison, of Encino; seven grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, and one sister, Dolores Gallegos, of Clovis; as well as numerous nieces and nephews and family and friends.

Services pending and will be private and limited to immediate family.

 

Bill Gallegos

1951-2022

This cowboy made his final ride to heaven on March 20, 2022. Bill, age 71, was born on March 12, 1951.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Willie and Frances Gallegos; brother-in-law, Manuel Cordova; in-laws, Lawrence and Winnie Fitzner; brothers-in-law, Freddy Fitzner and Lewis Rogers; stepdaughter, Tammy Starritt; niece, Jeanne Lin Cammack; and great-nephew, Drew Ciemny.

Bill is survived by his loving wife of 20 years, Janet; daughter, Shawna Gallegos; sisters, Vickie Cordova and Stella Gallegos; sisters-in-law, Linda (Jay) Cammack and Rita Rogers; nieces, Andrea Cordova, Maretta Miller, Michelle (Jeff) Penalosa and Tiffany (Jake) Raines; nephews, Armando Cordova and Jay Cammack Jr.; great-nieces, Gabriella McCarthy, Mariah (Justin) Ward, Ellayne Mae (Andrew), Jayme, Desi Penalosa and Jada Raines; great-nephews, Kohl (Brook) Ciemny and Gaiden Raines; great-great nephews, Bradley and Harrison Ward; stepdaughters, Shanon (Leroy) Sawyer and Sharee Armstrong; step-grandchildren, Amber, Destiny, Lynzie (Tyler), Jacob and Cameron; step-great grandchildren, Brice, Rylan, Serena, Dominic, Anaya, Messiah, Major Jaxx and Skylar. Bill is also survived by his aunt, Martha; many cousins and friends.

He was raised and graduated in Logan, N.M. Bill attended Eastern New Mexico University majoring in agriculture, business and feed lot management. He was the first person at ENMU to receive a degree in feed lot management.

Bill spent his life being a cattle broker in Logan, Clovis, Tucumcari and Belen. In his business, he traveled all over the United States and into some foreign countries. This gave him the opportunity to meet many friends. No one was a stranger.

Bill was a people person. He always had a joke or saying that made you laugh. In semi-retirement, he enjoyed gardening and was known for growing all kinds of tomatoes and hot peppers.

His greatest pride was seeing his daughter, Shawna, get her degree in micro-biology and was looking forward to her Ph.D. graduation in December.

A viewing, Rosary and Funeral Mass were held Tuesday, March 29, at Our Lady of Belen Catholic Church. Interment followed at Our Lady of Belen Memorial Gardens.

Pallbearers were be Armando Cordova, Dennis Salas, Louie Salas, Antonio Vigil, Gary Sundby and John Higgins. Honorary pallbearers were Dennis Gallegos, Jay Cammack Jr. and Frank Vigil.

Please sign Bill’s online tribute at romerofuneralhomenm.com. Romero Funeral Home, 609 N. Main St., Belen.

 

R.C “Dody” Roberts

1932-2022

R.C. Roberts, of Los Lunas, passed away comfortably at home on Feb. 12, 2022.

R.C. was born in Whittenberg, Texas. He was a veteran of the Korean War, serving in the Air Force. He worked in construction as a building contractor in Albuquerque for many years.

He was a member of the DAV, VFW, New Mexico Old Time Fiddlers Association in T or C, N.M. He was also a member of the Bosque Farms Fiddlers Association.

R.C. married the love of his life, June Day Roberts, in August 1954.

He is also survived by three children, Jerry Roberts and wife, Denise, of Albuquerque, Jackie Pulis and husband, Robert, of Albuquerque, and Chip Roberts and wife, Beverly, of Durango, Colo. He is also survived by five grandchildren and four great-grand children.

Due to his wishes, there will be no service.

 

Elvina D Torres

Died 2022

Elvina D Torres, age 94, a resident of Peralta, passed away peacefully on Saturday, March 19, 2022, surrounded by loved ones and family.

She is preceded in passing by her husband, Jose Torres; and sons, Joe-Ray and Bob Torres.

Elvina is survived by her brother, Ramon Griego; loving daughters, Romie and husband, Tom Romo, and Hilda and husband, Tony Valdez; son, Art Torres and wife, Debbie Torres; grandchildren, Karen, Becky, Annette, Manuel, Phillip, Audrey, Richard and wife, Renee, Maria and husband, Daniel, Brandon and Kevin; and many great-grandchildren.

Elvina enjoyed crocheting, sewing and gardening.

A visitation will be held at 9:30 a.m., Thursday, March 31, at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Peralta, with a Funeral Mass to follow at 10 a.m.

Funeral arrangements were trusted to Noblin Funeral Service, Los Lunas, 2211-D Main St., SE Los Lunas, NM, 87031, 505-866-9992.