Obituaries

LEROY HORPEDAHL April 13, 1924 – April 27, 2015

LeRoy Horpedahl passed away in his home on April 27, 2015 after a long struggle with Parkinson’s and other ailments. His last days were spent comfortably in his home surrounded by family and lots of visits from friends.  He was 91 years old.

LeRoy was born at home on the farm, one of six children of immigrant Norwegian parents in the rural farming community of Glyndon, Minnesota, April 13, 1924. He attended a one-room elementary school in the country, then boarded in town so he could attend high school. His enlistment in the Navy enabled him to obtain Read More

FRANK S. ABEYTA Oct. 14, 1920 – April 15, 2015

Frank Abeyta “beat the odds” until April 15, 2015 when he died peacefully at the age of 94 in Albuquerque, NM.

Frank was born in Parkview, NM on October 14, 1920 to Jose Amado Abeyta and Josefita Gomez Abeyta. He was one of eight children that grew up in northern New Mexico and southern Colorado.

After serving in the US Army during WWII he moved to Los Alamos where he was a driver for Zia Company. He met the love of his life, Ida Trujillo and they married in 1949. Frank and Ida honeymooned in Mexico City, which was uncommon at the time.

Frank then joined the Los Alamos Read More

PAULA WYNN TORRES June 23, 1952 – April 2, 2015

Paula Wynn Torres, age 62, passed away unexpectedly on April 2, 2015. 

Born in Minneapolis Minnesota, on June 23, 1952, Paula is survived by her brother, Griffith Torres, and parents James F. and Mary W. Torres of Berkeley, California.

DENISE M. BEHNKE Oct. 17, 1963 – April 15, 2015

Denise M. Behnke passed away April 15, 2015 in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Behnke was born Oct. 17, 1963 and graduated from Los Alamos High School in 1982. She leaves behind her husband, Kevin Smith and daughter Jade, 18.

A celebration of life service is scheduled for 2 p.m. Wednesday, April 22 at the Shrine of Remembrance “America the Beautiful” Chapel, 1730 E. Fountain Blvd., in Colorado Springs. Read More

JESSE JR. LYTTEN June 23, 1929 – April 10, 2015

Jesse Jr. Lytten, 85, passed away unexpectedly on Friday April 10th 2015 with his beloved wife Shirley Lytten by his side. He had his daughters, Donna Jean Young and Suzanne Waterbury there as well. Several of his immediate family members were waiting. Jesse was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather.

Jesse met Shirley Anne Benson in Washington, D.C. while he was serving in the United States Navy. They met on a blind date and were married September 15, 1951. They were blessed with three daughters, Donna Jean, Darlene Marie and Read More

LONA PERKINS CAPPIS Nov. 11, 1941 – April 4, 2015

DALLAS – At 6:17 p.m., on Saturday, April 4, 2015, Lona Perkins Cappis, age 73, quietly passed away at Kindred Hospital in Dallas, Texas after long bout with respiratory illness. Her immediate family were there to comfort her. Lona was a long-time resident of Los Alamos with many ties to the people and the town.

Born on November 11, 1941, in Los Angeles, California, to Ivan and Lona Brown Perkins, Lona’s life of adventure took her all around the country and the globe. She lived in a wide variety of places, including Los Angeles, California; Read More

JUDITH C. GURSKY May 3, 1927 – April 8, 2015

Judith Gursky (Judy) passed away on April 8, 2015 in Los Alamos, New Mexico, three weeks short of her 88^th birthday.

She was the matriarch, and with her husband of more than 60 years, Martin, the parent of a large, loving family who adored her; respected and benefitted from her surpassing intellect; and marveled at her wide ranging talents and interests, always accompanied with common sense and humor.

Judy was born in New York City on May 3, 1927 to Henry L. Cassidy and Gladys Carleton Cassidy. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Martin, Read More

CHARLES B. BUNCH April 3, 2015

Charles B. Bunch was born in Los Alamos in 1951 and passed away in Vancouver, Wash., on April 3, 2015.

Charlie graduated from Los Alamos High School in 1969.

He is survived by his sister Cheryl Rael and husband Robert Rael of Las Vegas, Nev., and sister Patti Poe of Rio Rancho, as well as three nephews and two nieces. He also is survived by his friend and caretaker Ruth Keen. Read More

ALYCE M. SUTTON April 1, 2015

Alyce M. Sutton, 81, a resident of Los Alamos, passed away of natural causes on Wednesday, April 1, 2015. 

Alyce was born in Revere, Massachusetts where she met and married her childhood sweetheart, John T. Sutton Sr., in September of 1956. Alyce was a devoted wife to her husband as well as a devoted mother, grandmother and great grandmother. In 1972 they moved to Los Alamos, NM, where Alyce immediately became involved in the community.

She became a member of the Over the Hill Hikers group and joined the Los Alamos Bridge League. Alyce soon became an accomplished Read More

MARIO VILLA Dec. 28, 2014

Mario Villa, 62, died Dec. 28, 2014. Mario grew up in Los Alamos, but lived in Chimayo at the time of his passing on Dec. 28, 2014.

He was very sociable and met many people in his line of work as a weaver. He will always be remembered for his quick wit, constant smile and infectious laugh, as well as his love for classic cars. His Dodge Charger was certainly his favorite! 

A memorial honoring the life of Mario Villa will take place at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 11, 2015 at Living Christ Ministries in Espanola. The address is 314-B Riverside, next to the old Valley Bank, now Century Read More

TYLER WEBB March 21, 1986 – March 31, 2015

Tyler Webb, 29, of Los Alamos, NM died March 31, 2015 after battling a long illness. Tyler was born in Los Alamos, NM on March 21, 1986. He attended Los Alamos Schools thru middle school. 

He was accepted, attended and graduated from High School at the North American Wilderness Academy (NAWA) in Redding, CA. Tyler was a member of the NAWA Snowboard Team in High School. 

After High School, Tyler joined and served in the United States Air Force. Tyler’s primary specialty was as an Aircraft Armament Specialist for Black Hawk Helicopter Read More

ALICE FAYE BAIR July 27, 1946 – August 14, 2014

Alice Faye Bair, age 68, passed away on August 14, 2014 in Las Vegas, NV after a long battle with cancer. She was born on July 27, 1946 in Los Alamos, NM where she spent her childhood.

She is survived by a brother, Loy Van Vleet (Ruth), 2 Daughters Karen Rentfrow (George) and Carol Dison (Todd), 5 grandchildren, 2 great grandchildren, and her 2 dachshunds, Precious and Duchess. Alice was preceded in death by her husband Jimmy Waggle, son Madison Waggle, husband George Bair and her parents Richard Van Vleet and Reba and Gilbert Solis.

Alice grew up in Los Alamos Read More

IRVING V JOHNSON 1924 – 2015

Born in Havre, Montana in 1924, Irving V Johnson learned to work leather at a saddle shop as a young man.

In 1943, at age 19, he joined the Navy and was assigned to Combat Aircraft Service Unit (Forward) 9 during World War II. Irving used many skills from the saddle shop as a Parachute Rigger; he was responsible for preparing parachutes and repairing the cloth wings of combat aircraft.

After receiving his honorable discharge in Bremerton, Washington in 1947, Irving worked for the Seattle Steel Company. Yearning for a change of scenery, he joined the Atomic Energy Commission Read More

JEAN KRINARD EVANICH May 11, 1924 – March 16, 2015

Jean Krinard Evanich passed away on March 16, 2015 in Kenosha, Wisc., with her daughter, Sheila, and her son-in-law, John, at her side.

She was born to Albert and Mamie Krinard on May 11, 1924 in Alton, Illinois along the Mississippi, a river she held dearly in her heart.

At the age of 15 she put her name in a magazine for pen-pals around the world. One response was from Johnny, (John M. Evanich) in the CCCs in Oregon, later to become the love of her life. They were married November 14, 1942, he is his Army uniform and she in her favorite purple dress.

For the Read More

EDWARD GENE CARLSON March 11, 2015

Edward Gene Carlson, 87, of Los Alamos, New Mexico, died March 11, 2015. He was born in Tacoma, Washington, where he lived most of his life.

He served in the U.S. Army during World War II and the Korean conflict. He later worked in Tacoma as a motion picture projectionist and a TV cameraman.

Ed loved the mountains of Washington State and spent much of his free time hiking in Mt. Rainier National Park.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Selma Carlson of Tacoma, Washington; his brother, Roy Carlson of Boston, Massachusetts; and by his nephew Lester McGehee, Read More

LUVELLA READING Sept. 1, 1938 – March 11, 2015

Luvella Reading, 76, former resident of Los Alamos, passed away Wednesday, March 11, 2015. She was born in Abiquiu, NM on September, 1, 1938 to Sinferoza and Pedro Abeyta. 

She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary for many years and was an advocate of US service personnel and veterans, and always included them in her prayers for their well being and safe return. Luvella, known as “Nana Lu”, lived for the joy provided by her grandchildren, and great-granddaughter Chloe.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Samuel Reading; Read More

NANCY SCOTT FITZGIBBON May 10, 1921 – March 10, 2015

Nancy Scott Fitzgibbon passed away on Tuesday, March 10, 2015. Born in El Paso, Texas to Robert Churchill and Ellen Grogan Scott on May 10, 1921. She attended the Texas School of Mines and Metallurgy (UTEP) in El Paso, Texas and received her bachelor’s degree in 1943.

Nancy married Francis Joseph Fitzgibbon of Syracuse, NY in 1946 and moved to Los Alamos, NM where Fitz worked for the Los Alamos National Laboratory and Nancy began her long career as an educator with the Los Alamos Public Schools. She was a dedicated teacher who taught hundreds of students Read More

SIMON RAISTRICK April 27, 1980 – March 1, 2015

Simon Raistrick died on March 1, 2015, of a drug overdose. He had been struggling with addiction for some years.   

He was born April 27, 1980, in California, but spent his childhood in Los Alamos, NM, with frequent summer trips to England, where his father is from, as well as trips to New Zealand, France, and Greece. This awakened the travel bug in Simon.  

He formed close friendships in his kindergarten class at Barranca Mesa School … friendships that have lasted all his life.

He became an avid reader at a young age and was a wonderful Read More

MARGARET R. HILTON June 20, 1920 – Feb. 22, 2015

Margaret R. Hilton was born June 20, 1920 in Locust Grove, Oklahoma and passed away Feb. 22, 2015 in Pueblo, Colorado.

Margaret’s husband Lee was an explosives expert in the U.S. Army.  He was recruited to Los Alamos, N.M. in 1943 to work on the ”Manhattan Project” and 1945 Margaret and their daughter, Rebecca, moved from Missouri to join him in Los Alamos. Margaret and Lee were High School sweethearts – she would have followed him anywhere.

Margaret spent many years as a stay-at-home wife and mom, raising three children. She was an accomplished Read More

JUANITA C. WEBER March 3, 2015

Juanita C. Weber, age 93, a resident of White Rock, passed away on March 3, 2015.

She was preceded in death by her husband Joseph L. Weber, daughter Deborah Scroggins and grandson Trent Johnson.

She is survived by her sons Gerald Weber Sr., (Pam) and Joseph B. Weber, granddaughters Amanda Weber, Sherri Harner, grandsons, Gerald Weber Jr., Aaron Freeseha, Ian Scroggins, Colin Scroggins, Ethan Scroggins, four great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

A rosary will be recited on Monday, March 9, 2015 at St. Joseph Hall in White Rock at 7:00 p.m. Funeral Mass will Read More

LARRY JOSEPH MITCHELL Nov. 11, 1936 – Feb. 25, 2015

Larry Joseph Mitchell, 78, passed away Wednesday, February 25, 2015 at his home in Los Lunas, NM.

He was born the youngest of five in Kilgore, Texas on November 11, 1936 to Jesse Coleman Mitchell and Chloe Etta (Patillo) Mitchell. Larry was a quiet man who was willing to help with thoughtful logical advice at any time. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and photography.

Larry lived most of his life in New Mexico, where he worked at Los Alamos National Laboratory for 26 years. Prior to working at LANL, he worked for the Albuquerque Police Department and A.C.F. Read More

MARY ANN REIMUS April 16, 1959 – Feb. 19, 2015

Mary Ann (Humphrey) Reimus passed away suddenly on Feb. 19, 2015 at the UNM hospital in Albuquerque with her family at her side. 

She was born April 16, 1959 in St. Louis, MO to Dr. George Humphrey and Rheta (Lucas) Humphrey. She lived most of her life in New Mexico, including the last 26 years in Los Alamos. 

She is survived by her husband of 30 years, Paul Reimus of Los Alamos, son Nathan Reimus of Liverpool, NY, son Stephen Reimus of San Diego, CA, daughter Michelle Bennett (Thomas) of Goose Creek, SC, and grandson John Paul Bennett of Goose Creek, Read More

EDWIN D. “BUCK” BUCKINGHAM June 16, 1918 – Feb. 17, 2015

Edwin D. “Buck” Buckingham was from Shiloh, TN, born at home in Possum Hollow on Sunday, June 16, 1918. He lived most of his life in Colorado, and died in Los Alamos on February 17, 2015, after a short illness. He was four months shy of his 97th birthday.

Two years earlier he moved into assisted living in Los Alamos, to be near his only child, Judy Buckingham, and her husband, Bob Williams. This was a courageous move – he had been the same house for over 60 years!

Buck’s childhood experiences in Tennessee involved tobacco fields, hunting Read More

M. (MCBURNEY) DEAN KELLER Jan. 7, 1932 – Feb. 15, 2015

On February 15th, 2015, M. Dean Keller left this Earth to be with his Mom and Dad, brother and sister-in-law, and his two sons (David and Douglas) in that dimension where his Father God and Christ Jesus live.

Having been born in the 1930s and seen the turn of the century, the many changes in life on this Earth, it is good now he can really experience life in the presence of God. Dean served his country in the Air Force as a combat crew member during the Korean War. After this adventure, he earned a Masters Degree in Civil Engineering and lived and worked Read More

KATHLEEN WORTMANN OSCHWALD Feb. 13, 2015

A memorial service is pending for Kathleen Wortmann Oschwald.

Oschwald, 68, died Feb. 13, 2015 at her home in Los Alamos following an extended illness. Read More

ALPHONSE POPOLATO Aug. 18, 1920 – Jan. 28, 2015

Alphonse Popolato, 94, of Rio Rancho, NM entered his eternal home in Heaven on Wednesday, January 28, 2015.

Al (Pop) was born in Flushing, Queens, NY on August 18, 1920. He earned his Bachelor of Science degrees from St. Francis College ‘42 (Chemistry) and Virginia Polytechnic Institute ’44 (Chemical Engineering). He served in the US Army and was a true American hero who played an integral part in the Manhattan Project, which contributed to the successful conclusion of WWII. He enjoyed a distinguished career working in as a Chemical Engineer Read More

MICHAEL R. LUJAN Sr. Feb. 8, 2015

Michael R. Lujan Sr., 64, a resident of Nambe Pueblo, passed away on Sunday, February 8, 2015 following a brief illness and a broken heart.

Mr. Lujan was preceded in death by his loving wife of 45 years, Judith M. Lujan; parents, Senovio R. Lujan Jr. and Gloria G. Kniffin-Lujan; in-laws, Celedon R. and Rose V. Lujan; brother-in-law, Joe A. Lujan, Richard Rettig. Michael was a Combat Marine and Vietnam Veteran who served his country proudly and with honor. He also worked and retired from the Los Alamos Fire Department after 23 years of service.

He was an avid sports fan Read More

ROBERT D. HAMBLET Feb. 6, 2015

Robert D. Hamblet, 81, a resident of White Rock, suddenly passed away on Friday, February 6, 2015. He was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas and Frances Hamblet. 

Robert was a loving son and brother. His main passion was a participant for the Shrine Club, Lions Club, NRA, Air Force Veterans Society. When Robert wasn’t extremely busy with all the meetings for the various clubs he had to attend, he enjoyed the outdoors on his 4-wheeler. Robert also loved hunting and fishing. He will be dearly missed by all those who knew and loved him.

Robert is Read More

ROBERT OSCAR RILEY Nov. 23, 1938 – Feb. 3, 2015

Robert Oscar Riley, 76, of Hernandez, passed away without pain on Tuesday, February 3, 2015 in White Rock, following a short illness.

Robert was preceded in death by his parents, Oscar and Lola Riley; in-laws, Ruth and Harold Nedrow.  Robert was born November 23, 1938, the second child of Clarence Oscar and Lola Belle Rawls Riley in Monticello, Arkansas. He was raised in simpler times, with a deep and abiding love of family, and a special connection with the outdoors and animals, spending countless hours hunting and fishing with family and friends. Read More

MABEL CLARA NELSON YOUNG Jan. 29, 1916 – Jan. 29, 2015

Mabel Clara Nelson Young, born January 29, 1916 in Lander, Wyoming and passed away at home in La Madera, NM on her 99th birthday, January 29, 2015, surrounded by her family.

Mabel spent most of her childhood in the Bay Area of California. She started playing piano with a dance band in high school, and continued to make a living this way into her twenties. In 1938 she married Irvin Henneker. Two years later their only child, Carol was born. Carol was the light of her life. Sadly, she was widowed when Carol was just six. They left their home in St Louis, Read More

GEORGE LORIO Nov. 13, 1936 – Jan. 24, 2015

George Lorio D.D.S., a longtime resident of Los Alamos, passed away peacefully at El Castillo on Saturday, January 24, 2015 surrounded by the prayers of beloved friends and family. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ignacio Paul and Clara Lorio. 

George was born November 13, 1936 in David, Panama. He will be lovingly missed by his wife of 47 years, Kathy: his children, Krista (Mike) of Minneapolis, MN, Michael (Mikal) of Wilsonville, OR, Kevin (Joletta) of Hood River, OR and Christopher of Norfolk, VA.; his beloved sisters Clarita Collins, Read More