1987 
Obituaries and Articles
Compiled by Marcena Thompson
Return to Obituary Index

Our Special thanks to
The Las Cruces Sun News©
256 W. Las Cruces Ave.
Las Cruces, NM
88005-1804

Feb. 1, 1987

BUCHANAN
Lettie Buchanan died Oct 1987 at the age of 101. Masonic Cemetery. Last address: 2905 East Missouri Ave. Arrangements by Graham's Mortuary.
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Feb. 20, 1987

AGUILAR
Funeral services foe Tomasa G. Aguilar were Friday at Berino with the Rev. ben Silva officiating. Burial was in San Miguel. Aguilar is survived by four sister, Socerro Hernandez or Berino, Juana Sedillos of Oxnard, Ca., Franciscera Guzman of Canutillo and Ester Garcia of Los Angeles, Ca., abrother;Gregorio Aguilar of Los Angeles, Ca. and 48 G-grandchildren. Arrangements are by Graham's Mortuary.
*

Feb. 20, 1987

RICHARDSON
George Herbert Richardson, 87, of Las Cruces, died Feb. 18, 1987 
Buried will be in the Masonic Cemetery. He was a retired rancher. Survived by a daughter, Karen Boudz of Las Cruces; a sister, Dorothy Richarson of Lawrence, Kan. Arrangements are by Getz Funeral Home.
*

Feb. 20, 1987

HARRISON
Ikle Harrison, 84 of Las Cruces died thur. at Memorial General Hospital. Services are pending at Getz Funeral Home. Las Cruces.NM

Oct. 1987

RUHMAN
Lois W. Ruhman died Oct 1987 at the age of 76,Graveside serevices for Lois W. Ruhman, 76 of 1771 Royal Dr. will be at Cedar Lawn Memorial Park in Dennison,TX. Died at Memorial General Hospital. Survived by one son, Gary Clark of Las Cruces; three sisters, Lucille Wilson and Martha Dunbar, both of TX., and Nora Somers of OK. Getz Funeral Home.

Dec. 1, 1987

GRANILLO

Las Cruces - Bennina Nieto Granillo, 62, died Sat. Getz Funeral Home. Our Lady of Health Catholic Church. Burial at San Albino Cemetery. Survivors: husband, Manuel; son Larry Jone Luna; six daughters, Erlinda Perez, Beatrice Rosalez, Bertha Ibarra and Mary Helen Gardes, all of Las Cruces, Matilda Garcia of Santa Fe, Margie Sarabia of Albuquerque, three brothers, Daniel Nieto and Florentino Nieto, both of Mesilla, Filimon Nieto of Dona Ana; two sisters, Nellie Gonzales of Las Cruces, Lucy Duenes of Blythe, CA.

PORTILLO

Tortugas - Pascuala Polanco Portllo, 68 died Monday. Getz Funeral Home. Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church. Burial at Tortugas Cemetery. Survivors: two sons, Gilbert of Las Cruces, David of McAllen, TX; daughters, Rosalie Marron of Albuquerque, three brothers, Chano Polanco of Asencion, MX, Ramon Polando of Juarez, MX, Mucio Polanco of El Padso, two sisters, Pilar Lopez of Juarez, Lencha Lopez of Tortugas. Preceded in death, by her husband, Anastacio, in 1987.

KNUCKLES

Clude Knuckles, 67. First Baptist Church. WW 2 vet. Burial at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens with Military honors. Survivors: son, Gerald of T or C, brothers, Robert of Mill Creek, OK, sister, Joyce Rothusberger of Eagar, AZ.

Dec. 2, 1987

BURGENO

Las Cruces - Paul (Cottontail) Burgeno Jr., 29, died Tuesday in an motorcycle accident. Getz Funeral Home. Burial at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens. Survivors: daughter, Christy Ann of Las Cruces, father, Paul P. Sr., of Fontana, Ca; mother, Ora Montoya of Ontario, CA, maternal grandparents, Pete and Aurora Montoya of Las Cruces; brother, Phil of Ontario Ca; sister, Loree Christianson of Las Cruces.

RASMUSSEN

Las Cruces - Mogen I. (Ras) Rasmussen, 70 died Mon. Born and raised on a livestock complex north of Copenhagen, Denmark and served five-year blacksmith apprenticeship between Bagsvaerd High School and earning his bachelors degree from the e University of Copenhagen. WW2, he survived numerous cross-channel missions against the German invaders as part of the Danish underground network. Smuggled out of Denmark and worked as a consultant to Nelson and Winthrop Rockefeller, taught horseshoeing and classes on windmills at NMSU. Hill Baptist Church. Survivors: three daughters, Monica Rasmussen, Alexis Rasmussen and Sandra Dohn all of Ft. Collins, CO.

WATKINS

Las Cruces - Wilbur Ellis Watkins, 89, died Sunday. Burial at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens. Survivors: two sons, Stanley R. of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Richard W. of Las Cruces. Preceded in death, wife, Esther, in 1982. Grahams Mortuary.

STEVENS

Hatch - Walter Edgar Stevens, 68 did Fri. WW2 vet. Getz Funeral Home. Burial in Hatch Cemetery. Survivors: wife, Emma Lee; two sons, Tommy of Mesilla Park, Terry of Las Cruces, four daughters, Vera Shepherd and Phyllis Sims, both of Las Cruces, Doris Pannella of Hatch, Virginia Shepherd of Tucson, AZ, brother, Lester of Greenville, TN. Preceded in death by his parents, Roy and Rosetta, three brothers, Bill, Tom, Roy, sister, Viola White.

Dec. 3, 1987

KELSO

Las Cruces - Charles E. Kelso, 91, died Wed. Graham’s Mortuary. WW 1 vet., Masonic Bodies. St. Paul’s United Methodist Church. Burial at Masonic Cemetery. Survivors: wife, Lee; daughter, Anna Loy Jordaon of Las Cruces, sister, Edna Jerome of Laredo, MO; three brothers, Bill, Hugh of Trenton, MO., Joe of Kansas City, MO.

FULLER

Vado - Andrew W. Fuller, 95, died Sat. Getz Funeral Home. Burial at Anthony Cemetery. Survivors: wife, Ella Mae; two sons, Andrew Jr., Charlie Williams; two daughters, Erma Manning, all of Vado, Bernice Williams of Seaside CA. two sisters, Helen Hamilton of Detroit and Carrie Fuller of Tallahassee FL. Preceded in death by two sons, Sam and LeRoy.

Dec. 4, 1987

PENA

Las Cruces - Jesus Maria Pena, 74 died Tues. Getz Funeral Home. Immaculate Heart of Mary Cathedral. Burial at Masonic Cemetery. Survivors: two sons, Arthur Woods and Albert Pena, both of Las Cruces; daughter, Bertha Eyestone of Ridgecrest, CA; two brothers, Alejandro Lara and Alberto Lara, both of Las Cruces; two sisters, Refugia Lara of El Paso, Ramona Acuna of Las Cruces. Preceded in death by a son, Edward Maynes in 1973.

GRIJALVA

Las Cruces - Jesus B. Grijalva, 75, died Tues. Getz Funeral Home. One obit said he was 75, the other says 61. WW2 vet. Member of VFW Post # 10124. Survivors: wife, Eliboria; three sons, Mike, Alberto, Jesus Jr., all of Las Cruces; two daughters, Emma Stetter of Roswell, Inez Grijalva of Las Cruces, three brothers, Antonio of Las Cruces, Jose of Hurley and Herminio of Arrey; three sisters, Maria Martinez of Scottsdale, AZ, Erlinda Apodaca of Garfield, Rose Perez of Las Cruces.

LOYA

Las Cruces - Nieves Loya, 71, died today. Getz Funeral Home.

Dec. 6, 1987

GRIJALVA

Jesus B. Grijalva, 61, died Thurs. WW2 vet. Member of Post 19124, VFW. Getz Funeral Home. Survived by his wife, Eliboria; three sons, Mike, Alberto and Jesus Jr. all of Las Cruces; two daughters, Emma Stetter of Roswell, and Inez Grijalva of Las Cruces; three brothers, Antonio of Las Cruces, Jose of Hurley and Herminio of Arrey; three sisters, Maria Martinez of Scottsdale, AZ., and Rosa Perez of Las Cruces and Erlinda Apodaca of Garfield.

MALDONADO

La Union - Enrique T. Maldonado, Sr., 84, died in El Paso Fri. Our Lady of Refuge Catholic Church. Member of Knights of Columbus Council # 1226, National Rifleman’s Association, Upper Valley Lions’ Club. Marin Funeral Home. in El Paso, Burial at Anthony Cemetery. Survivors: wife, Inez, two sons, Enrique Jr. Rodolfo, both of La Union; three daughters, Evangelina M. Sainz of La Union, Margie Rodriguez of Las Cruces, Carmen M. Guzman of El Paso; brother, Ernesto of Monterey Park, CA; five sisters, Anita Cordero of Pico Rivera, Ca, Alvina M. Garcia, Lupe Flores, Aurora Gil , Esperanza Montano, all of Las Cruces.

Dec. 7, 1987

BISSON

Las Cruces - Wilma Bisson, 71, died Fri. Local arrangements by Getz. Burial at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Greeley. CO. Stoddard Funeral Home chapel on Greeley. Survivors: husband, Bill, daughter, Louise Gibson of Albuquerque; two sisters, Florence Greer of Erie, CO., Maxine Genzlinger of Phoenix.

Dec. 9, 1987

THAXTON

Las Cruces - Wm. Dalehaxton, 69 of Anthony died today. Las Cruces Funeral Home. US Army. Masonic Lodge in Wisner, LA. Burial at Ft. Bliss National Cemetery. Survivors: wife, Leonora; daughter, Dale Schickedanz of Las Cruces; sister Lurline Tubbs of Baton Rouge, LA.

Dec. 9, 1987

MARTINEZ

Chamberino - Pablo Martinez Jr., died Sun. in El Paso. St. Anthony Catholic Church. Burial at Anthony Cemetery. Survivors: two sons, Manuel of La Union, Moises of Chamberino; four daughters, Matilda Medina of Anthony, Magdalena Ramirez, Minerva Martinez, Mickey Sandoval, all of El Paso; brother, Desiderio Martinez of Belen. Martin’s Funeral Home, El Paso, TX.

KAPPEL

Charles Kappel, 81, died Sat. at his home is Las Cruces. Getz Funeral Home.

Dec. 13, 1987

GUTIERREZ

Leva Soto Gutierrez, 90, died at home Thurs. She was a lifelong resident of Las Cruces and was a member of a pioneering family of 12. First graduating class of Las Cruces High School and was the grandmother of State Rep. Ruben A. Smith, D-Las Cruces. Graham’s Mortuary. Burial at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens. Survived by her daughter, Josephine Smith of Las Cruces; brother, Mike Soto of Las Cruces. Preceded in death by her husband, Alberto G. Gutierrez in 1969.

WALKER

Agnes Merci Walker, 43, died Thurs. at home in Mesilla. Burial at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens. Survived by her husband, Chuck; her mother, Agnes Davidson of NY, her father, Dave Davidson of San Diego, CA, two sisters, Donna of Olney, MD and Betsy of NY.

trIVIZ

Robert Lawrence Triviz, 34, died at home. Lifelong resident of Las Cruces. Getz Funeral Home. Burial at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens. Survived by his mother, Mary Triviz of Las Cruces; wife, Suzanne; two brothers, Alfred and Fred, both of Las Cruces; sister, Margaret Irene Valdes of Las Cruces.

ALEXANDER

June King Alexander, 64, of Las Cruces died Sat. Burial at Ft. Bliss National Cemetery, El Paso, TX. Survived by her husband, George; two sons, George Jr. of El Paso, sister, Dorothy Deyo of Binghamton, NY. Getz Funeral Home.

HERNANDEZ

Camelia Hernandez, 93 of Anthony, NM. Getz Funeral Home. Burial at St. Anthony’s Cemetery. Survived by four sons, Dario and Margarito, both of Anthony, Enrique of Isleta, TX, Casimiro of Coolidge, AZ., daughter, Estefana Hernandez of Anthony.

STOUT

Buck Stout, 66, of Las Cruces died Sat. Getz Funeral Home.

Dec. 16, 1987

LARIMER

Joseph E. Larimer, 67 died Tues. in a El Paso hospital. Getz Funeral Home. WW2 vet. with the US Army. Burial at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens. Survived by his wife, Erika; son, Joseph of Las Cruces, four daughters, Monika Larimer, Carlotta Armitage and Elizabeth Larimer Lindsay all of Las Cruces, Rosemarie Staton of Yuba, OK; two sisters, Bertha Roomey of Tascadero, CA., Nora Morgan of Canada.

GARCIA

Javiera H. Garcia, 67, died Tues. Getz Funeral Home. Burial at St. Joseph’s Cemetery. Survived by her husband Isidoro; three sons, Guillermo of Las Cruces, Isidoro Jr. of Roswell, Enrique Gutierrez of Juarez, MX, three daughters, Gloria Lampron of El Paso, Socorro Garcia Ramons of Dallas; sister, Cipriana Ornelas of Juarez.

ACOSTA

Silver City - Pet Young Acosta, 45 died Tues. Baca’s Hillcrest Funeral Home. Burial at Silver City Catholic Cemetery. Survived by wife, Connie; son Anthony, daughter, Athena; his mother, Esther Acosta; two brothers, Ronnie and Bill Acosta; four sisters, Helen Acosta, Irene Roybal, Isabel Martinez and Dorothy Trujillo, all of Silver City.

Dec. 18, 1987

TERRY

James L. Terry, 87, died at home Thurs. Las Cruces resident since 1952. Graham’s Mortuary. Burial at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens. Survived by his wife, Clara; two daughters, Wynnell Dryden of El Paso, Earline Isaac of Kent, WA.; three sisters, Ruby Teschara of Santa Cruz, CA., Flora Brown of Cooper, TX., Forrest Sanders of Fabens, TX.

Dec. 21, 1987

FLOWERS

Thelma Flowers, 82, of Las Cruces died today. Resident since 1932. Graham’s Mortuary. Burial at Masonic Cemetery. Survived by a son, H. Pierce Hubbard of Las Cruces; three sisters, Beverly Bassford of Silver Springs, MD., Helen Yarbrough and Luciloe Martin, both of Las Cruces.

Dec. 23, 1987

CAMPBELL

Louis Campbell, 65, died Sun. Burial at Vado Cemetery. Survived by his wife, Eldora; three sons, Mickey of Moongate, Bobby of La Mesa, Andrew of Las Vegas, NV.; nine daughters, Nora Smith, Diana Fuller, Mattie Terry all of Ft. Worth, TX., Margaret Crawford of Richmond, Va, Betty Davis of Newport News, VA, Mary Glasso and Princie Campbell, both of El Paso, and Josie Campbell of La Mesa; brother, Little Joe Campbell of Austin, TX.; four sisters, Dora Lou Foster, Bessie Satchel, Alma Campbell and Edna Mae Satchel, all of Waco, TX. Getz Funeral Home.

Dec. 24, 1987

LIGON

Bonnie Cox Ligon, 54, died Wed. Member of the prominent Las Cruces Cox Family. Lifelong Las Cruces resident and a rancher. Grew up on the Bar-Z Ranch in Otero Co. Survived by her mother, Mrs. A. B. Cox of Las Cruces, daughter, Vicki L. Perez of Las Cruces, two sons, Mark D. Ligon and Matthew Ligon, both of Las Cruces; two sisters, Sara Hopkins of Las Cruces, Katherine Crosby of Warwick, R. I. Graham Mortuary.

BYERS

Ozella Byers, 80 of Las Cruces died Wed in El Paso, TX. Getz Funeral Home. Burial at Crown Hill Cemetery in Madison, Neb. Survived by a daughter, Phyllis Delzer of Las Cruces; three sisters, Lois Osborn of Madison, Pauline Lews of Tacoma, WA., Joy Rooney of Las Alamita, CA.

Dec. 27, 1987

SHERROCK

Souis Sherrock, 81, of Las Cruces, died Sat. Cremation. Survived by his wife, Helen; two sons, Louis E. of Las Cruces and John of Mesa, AZ., daughter, Ann Mong of Uniontown, PA., brother, Adorno Sirocchi of Italy; two sisters, Cesarina and Emma Sirocchi, both of Italy. Getz Funeral Home.

PADILLA

Martha E. Padilla, 57, died at her home Thur. Getz Funeral Home. Burial at St. Joseph’s Cemetery. Survived by husband, Rudy N; seven sons, Carlos Holguin of Albuquerque, Hector Holguin of the US Navy in Alaska, Rudy H. Jr., John A. and David A. Padilla, all of Albuquerque, Michael A. Padilla, of the US Navy in Long Beach, CA and Wm. H. Padilla of Las Cruces; two brothers, Lorenzo Holguin and Blas Vasquez of Mexico; sister Felomina Vasquez of Mexico.

AYALA

Jacinto Ayala, 33 died Thur. in a traffic accident outside Las Cruces. The body has sent to Yeager Funeral Home in Eagle Pass, TX. Getz Funeal Home was in charge of local arrangements.

trIM

Olga M. Trim, 94, died Fri. Survived by three daughters, Hazel Leonardelli of Pueblo, CO., June Sieger of Denver and Ruth Lord of Las Cruces, son Harry L. Trim of Oklahoma City, OK., brother, Harry Dellaplain of Milwaukie, OR. Preceded in death by her husband, Garland and two sons, and a daughter. Graham’s Mortuary.

HARSH

Annie Flora Harsh, 90, died Fri. at her home in Gila. Born in Farmington, educated in England, and returned to the U.S. in 1916. Homemaker. Survived by three sons, George Clinton of Gila, Robert Currie of Silver City, Glenn Ray of Tyler, TX. Preceded in death by her husband, Clinton in 1974, son Harrison in 1923, daughter, Ada Grace in 1968.

Dec. 28, 1987

HILL

Agnes G. Hill, 94, died Fri. Born in Anapra, lived most of her life in Las Cruces. Widow of Pioneer businessman, Charles Hill, they owned and operated Pickwidk Bus Lines, the first bus line from Las Cruces to El Paso, its bus depot and restaurant, The Tortugas Trading Post and the HK Truck Lines. Graham’s Mortuary.

ESPINOSA

Services are pending for Guadalupe Espinosa, 101, who died Sun. Graham’s Mortuary.

Dec. 29, 1987

WARREN

Charles E. Warren, 61, of Ruidoso died Fri. in Roswell. Burial at Masonic Cemetery. WW 2 Vet, USN. Survivors: wife, Bess; two sons, Jimmy and Danny both of Las Cruces; two daughters, Betty Jo Getz, Carroll Curtis, both of Las Cruces; two sisters, Carroll V. West of Washington, D.C, Mary E. Warren of CA. Getz Funeral Home.

ELDER

Glenn E. Elder, 73 of Mesilla, died Mon. Getz Funeral Home.

ESPINOZA

Guadalupe Espinoza, 101 of La Mesa, died Sun. He was a farmer and lived in La Mesa since 1925. San Jose Catholic Church. Burial at San Jose Cemetery. Survivors: two daughters, Ramona Bustamante of La Mesa, Julia Valenzuela of El Paso; three sons, Salvador of Columbus, NM, Gabriel of Las Cruces, Lupe of Montebello, CA. Graham’s Mortuary.

RUCHTE

Katharine F. Ruchte, died Sun. Graham’s Mortuary and burial at Dubuque, Iowa later this week. Survivors: two sons, Marshall of Arcata, CA, Carl of Lewisville, NC.

BOGARD

Myrtle Bogard, 92, died Sun. in Las Cruces. Forest Lawn Cemetery, Born Jan., 1, 1895 in Knoxville, LA. Survived by one son, Ira A. of Las Cruces. La Grone Funeral Chapel.

LEDBETTER

Audie L. Ledbetter, 83 of Mesilla Park, died Tue. Graham’s Mortuary. Survivors: two daughters, Jennie Bell Mooney of Las Vegas, NM, Wynema Brackett of Clarksdale, AZ; son, James E Harrison of Brazito; brother, Bruley Noe of San Luis Obispo, Ca. Burial at Missionary Ridge Cemetery in Mesquite.

HARDIN

Merle Hardin, 77 died Tue at home in Hanover. Member of the Eastern Star. Baca’s Hillcrest Funeral Chapel. Burial at Memory Gardens of the Valley Cemetery in Santa Teresa. Survived by a son, Charles of Hanover.

Dec. 30, 1987

ELDER

Glenn E. Elder, 73, died in Mesilla Mon. WW2 vet with the US Army. Burial at Ft. Bliss National Cemetery in El Paso, TX. Survived by his wife, Elizabeth; son Fred of Galveston, TX., three daughters, Susan Persky of San Francisco, Nancy McAllister of El Paso, and Angeline Mason of CA. Getz Funeral Home.

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