Obituaries

JOSEPH BUSTOS May 1, 1972 – April 23, 2022

Joseph Bustos, 49, (AKA Nina) passed away unexpectedly on April 23, 2022, just shy of his 50th birthday.

Joseph was born on May 1, 1972 at Fairview Clinic and Hospital, to Wilfred and Dollie Bustos, from Hernandez, New Mexico.

Joseph was preceded in death by his Loving mother Dollie Bustos, brother Kenneth Bustos and sister Amanda Bustos. Maternal grandparents Jacobo and Lydia Maestas, (Hernandez) paternal grandparents Melquiades and Lugarda Bustos (Chamita), and numerous aunt’s uncles and relatives.

Joseph graduated from Española Valley High Read More

PAUL STEWART KRESSIN Sept. 13, 1958 – April 21, 2022

Paul Stewart Kressin, 63, graduated to heaven Thursday, April 21, 2022 at his home in Blanchard, Idaho.

The celebration of life service will be held at 5 p.m., April 30, 2022, at Spirit Lake Baptist Church in Idaho.

Paul was born Sept. 13, 1958 in Los Alamos, NM to Ivan and Marjorie Kressin. Paul earned his bachelor degree in city planning from UC-Davis.

Paul married MaryAnn Allgeier March 30, 1985 in Sacramento. In 1992, he moved to Los Alamos and joined his father’s real estate appraising business. The family retired to Blanchard, Idaho in 2015. Read More

GEORGE HARRIS ANDERSON Sept. 20, 1934 – Dec. 4, 2021

George Harris Anderson passed away peacefully at The Ridge Assisted Living Dec. 4, 2021.

George was born Sept. 20, 1934 in Albert Lea, Minnesota to George Harris Anderson and Bella Wold Anderson. His early years were in Lake Mills and Pringhar, Iowa. His father was superintendent of public utilities and his mother was a pharmacist.

In 7th grade he moved to Hartley, Iowa. He graduated from high school in 1952 having played alto clarinet in marching band, acting in many plays, singing in the chorus, glee club and church choir.

He graduated Read More

BILL BUZBEE 1936 – April 22, 2022

Bill Buzbee – mathematician, computer scientist, musician, international traveler, lover of good food and wine, died peacefully from internal complications at the Good Samaritan Medical Center in Lafayette, Colorado Friday, April 22, 2022. He was 85.

Bill was born in Gorman, Texas in 1936 to Elzie Lewis Buzbee and Willie Mae Buzbee, dry-land farmers who survived the depression and dust bowl periods in West Texas.

His early years were spent in rural farm life and in work as a roustabout in the surrounding oil fields. A lifelong lover of music, Bill gravitated Read More

MARY MARGARET ONSTOTT Aug. 22, 1926 – April 1, 2022

Mary Margaret (Peg) Onstott passed away at 95 on April 1, 2022, in Pomona, California. She lived a rich and fulfilling life overflowing with family, friends, travel, and service.

Born Aug. 22, 1926 in Quincy, Illinois, Peg experienced a somewhat itinerant childhood as her family moved several times during the Depression to find work. At one point they moved in with her aunt in New Orleans, who lived in a tiny one-bedroom house. Peg described visiting the docks there to scavenge for shrimp after the fishing boats came in. They stayed for about a year, Read More

MARDELLE ‘MARDY’ KARKI Sept. 19, 1943 – April 21, 2022

Mardy Karki passed away April 21, 2022, at home in White Rock.

Mardy was born September 19, 1943, in Saginaw, Mich. She married her husband Theodore in 1977 and moved to White Rock in 1980. She ran her own cleaning business “Mardy’s Housekeeping” while she raised her 3 children. After retirement she became a volunteer for many organizations.

Mardy was an avid baker, pinochle player, White Rock Senior Center receptionist, and a proud member of the White Rock Methodist Church. She always had a story to tell you and never was shy about her opinion Read More

DANIEL BRANDT June 28, 1925 – April 13, 2022

Daniel (Danny) was born in Denver, Colo. to German-Russian parents who escaped Russia in 1913. His was another American success story, rising from poverty to excel in his career, achieving financial security, and enjoying great happiness.

He was the youngest of six children who grew up in the midst of the Great Depression. He, like his siblings, was deprived of a full education since he had to get a job to help support the family.  As a young man, he took an interest in machining and fabrication. He worked for a jeweler for a while before WW2. During the war, Read More

DANIEL EDWARD JUDGE SR. April 16, 2022

Daniel Edward Judge Sr. was a warm-hearted husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend to everyone he met. He left this world suddenly on April 16, 2022, at the age of 74.

Dan spent his childhood in Mays Landing, NJ, then joined the Army Reserve where he rose to the rank of drill instructor. After leaving the military, Dan went on to proudly serve his community of Cape May County, NJ, as an environmental health specialist, retiring as chief after more than 30 years of service.

He met the love of his life, Suzanne, during a softball game. A perennial power-hitter, Read More

EUGENE NICHOLAS KOVALENKO 1933 – 2022

Eugene Nicholas Kovalenko, PhD, son of Nicholas and Ruth Kovalenko, died on April 16, 2022, after an extensive period of physical health challenges.

Raised as Eugene “Kregg” in Phoenix, AZ, he joined the Army and was trained as a Russian interpreter during the Korean conflict, initially assigned to work in the top-secret Berlin Tunnel. Eugene’s education culminated with a Ph.D. in Ceramic Engineering after which he was recruited by General Atomic.

Other professional highlights include working for Brunswick Defense, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Read More

JERRY ALLEN May 19, 1929 – March 29, 2022

Jerry Eugene Allen passed away at home on March 29, 2022, at the age of 92. 

He was born May 19, 1929, in Merkel, Texas to Pickens Euell Allen and Dorothy Mae Higgins Allen, lovingly known as “Pick” and “Chick”. Jerry lived with his family in Merkel, Abilene, and San Angelo, Texas where he graduated from San Angelo High School in 1946.

He moved to Los Alamos, New Mexico in 1947, when his father accepted a job with the Los Alamos Fire Department. Jerry used to say when they left Texas, they didn’t know where they were headed, as they had never heard of Los Alamos.

Jerry Read More

BEATRICE LOUISE VOLZ June 24, 1930 – April 18, 2022

Beatrice Louise Volz, 91, died Monday, April 18, 2022, in Lake Havasu City, Arizona.

Born to Frank N. Chisom and Minnie A. (Carr) Chisom on June 24, 1930, in Bath, NY.  Her father died when Bea was only 5 years old. Her mother then married Leland Edmund VanOrder, who adopted Bea and her brother, Gilbert.

Bea graduated from Roosevelt High School in Dayton, Ohio, in 1948. On Feb. 26, 1952, she married the love of her life, James (Jim) L Volz, a short 4 years later. Jim and Bea had 3 wonderful sons, and stayed in Dayton until moving to Los Alamos, NM in 1964. Read More

CLAIR WORLEY NIELSON Dec. 10, 1935 – July 18, 2021

Clair Nielson — physicist, software and systems engineer, musician, and aficionado of great food and wine — died July 18, 2021, in Santa Fe, NM, from Felty’s Syndrome, a rare autoimmune disease associated with rheumatoid arthritis. He was 85.

Clair was born December 10, 1935, in Pocatello, ID, to Elva Worley Nielson and Guy Michael Nielson, a brickmason who went on to found a successful construction company. Clair’s intelligence and wide-ranging curiosity quickly propelled him to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he earned Read More

PHILIP NICHOLAS CASTORE Feb. 21, 1927 – April 13, 2022

Philip N. Castore passed away April 13, 2022 in Allentown, PA at the age of 95.

Philip was born in Bellmore, New York to parents Leonardo and Maria Castore. He had one married sister Margaret Cerbone. He served in the U.S. Air Force and was part of Operation Crossroads in 1946. Later he would be stationed in Roswell, New Mexico.

After his time in the Air Force he returned home to Brooklyn, New York where he met and married his beloved wife Claire DeRosa. Together they had three children and settled on Long Island.

In 1980, Philip accepted a position Read More

DONALD LESLIE RANDOLPH April 12, 1935 – April 8, 2022

Donald Leslie “Randy” Randolph passed away on April 8, 2022, 4 days shy of his 87th birthday. Randy passed away at home after a long and difficult battle with cancer.

Don was born on April 12, 1935 in Elkhart, Kansas. He was the fifth of six children born to William Haskell Randolph and Josephine Alberta Locke Randolph.

Don served in the U.S. Navy, and after an honorable discharge married his great love, Georgia Rice, on May 28, 1960. Soon after the couple married they moved to Los Alamos, NM and welcomed their daughter (1961) and son (1962).

Don worked Read More

MARILYN B. SULLIVAN 1931 – April 5, 2022

Marilyn B. Sullivan (nee Gorman) died April 5, 2022, in Los Alamos.

She was born in 1931 in Havre, Montana to Charles and Alice Wright Gorman.

She was married in 1954 to James F. Sullivan, deceased, and is survived by three children Matthew, Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Eileen (Patrick Lyford), Albuquerque, New Mexico; and Andrew (Mahnaz), Beacon, New York, six grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

She graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1953 and holds a master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Her early professional Read More

EDNA MAY OTT Feb. 20 – April 8, 2022

Edna May Ott, 79 years old, passed away Friday, April 8, 2022 at Methodist North Hospital.

Edna was born Feb. 20 to the late Golden “Goldie” and Mabel Clayton in War, West Virginia. Edna has been a resident of White Rock since 1966 and just recently moved to Mason, TN.

She was an accomplished artist who enjoyed creating Western art. Edna took pride in being a homemaker and caring for those around her. She always enjoyed cooking from scratch and trying new recipes from all over the world. Edna loved animals; she raised and showed Doberman Pinschers. She enjoyed riding Read More

MARSHA MARLENE BOURQUET July 26, 1942 – March 27, 2022

Marsha Marlene Bourguet, 79, beloved mother, sister and friend, was called to her eternal resting place on March 27, 2022.

She entered this world on July 26, 1942, in Avondale, AZ, born to Marion Albert and Thelma Lito Rex.

Marsha is survived by her son, James Bourguet and his wife, Marie and Grandson James Robert of Los Alamos, NM; brothers Leroy Rex of Albuquerque and David Rex of Rio Rancho; Sisters Dalphna Beckman in Denver, Co. and Iva Atkins in West Point, Mississippi. Sisters in law Karol Rex of Rio Rancho, Lola Whitehead and Emma Asbell Read More

CAROL A. (GUENTHER) WAGEMAN March 17, 2022

Carol Ann (Guenther) Wageman, beloved daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, and friend passed away at the age of 85 on Thursday, March 17, 2022.

Carol lived a good, long life. She was born to Alvin and Reva Guenther in a small farming community in Nebraska just before Christmas in 1936. She grew up on a farm, living an idyllic life when as a teenager she met her future husband Bill Wageman through amateur radio.

Bill and Carol married in September 1954. Their oldest son, Stuart, was born in Nebraska in 1955. The young couple then moved to Los Alamos, Read More

FLORENCE OLIVIA GONZALES March 8, 1936 – March 27, 2022

Florence Olivia Gonzales, born on March 8, 1936, peacefully went to meet our Heavenly Father on Sunday, March 27, 2022, surrounded by her family.

Florence was the youngest of eight children born to Joaquin and Aurelia Garduno. She devoted her life to her family and community in the Nambé Valley, where she lived her entire life like generations of her family before her.

In 1955, Florence married the love of her life Santiago “Jimmy” Gonzales, Jr., two months after graduating from Pojoaque High School. The two met at a high school dance when Read More

JOHN WILLIAM WARD Oct. 16, 1929 – March 22, 2022

John William Ward, scientist and musician, died March 22, 2022 at the age of 92. He passed peacefully at his home in Tijeras of complications stemming from a year-long battle with prostate cancer.

John was born October 16, 1929, in Moline, IL to William and Violet Ward. He graduated from Augustana College with a BA in chemistry, followed by a master’s from Washington University in Saint Louis with and later a Ph.D. in physical chemistry from the University of New Mexico after joining the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory (LASL) full time.

Coming to Read More

SANDRA ANNE TOLMIE Aug. 31, 1938 – March 22, 2022

Sandra Anne Tolmie of Los Alamos New Mexico was a caring wife, mother, grandmother, and friend. She left this world suddenly on March 22, 2022, at the age of 83.

She was born on August 31, 1938, in Belvidere Illinois. The family moved to Albuquerque in 1947 where Sandra graduated from Highland High School in 1956. She then went on to get her teaching degree at University of New Mexico in 1960. She married Don Tolmie in the same year and moved to Los Alamos, New Mexico where she became a 2nd grade teacher at Aspen Elementary School.

Sandra and Don had two children, Read More

ROBERT L. CADY July 3, 1924 – March 3, 2022

Robert L. Cady recently passed away 4 months short of his 98th birthday.

He was known to us as Daddy, Dad, Grandpa, Great Grandpa, and to his “other family” in Los Alamos as Grandpa Bob. He was a quiet, kind person with a subtle great sense of humor. Bob’s jokes were frequently made at the spur of the moment.

Robert was born in Brawley, California and worked on a farm with his family. He served in the Army in World War II, stationed in the Philippines. After the War, He met Drexel James of Laguna Beach, California and they were married in 1951. They began their married Read More

JAMES E. STALLINGS Dec. 13, 1928 – Jan. 21, 2022
LUCINDA “LUCY” REBECCA STALLINGS Oct. 3, 1932 – Dec. 15, 2021

James E. Stallings, born Dec. 13, 1928, passed away Jan. 21, 2022, at the age of 93. At the young age of 19 he moved from his birthplace Bee, Oklahoma to Los Alamos. He called Los Alamos “home” for the rest of his long adventurous life.

Lucinda “Lucy” Rebecca Stallings, born Oct. 3, 1932, passed away Dec. 15, 2021, at the age of 89. She was born in Bingham Canyon, Utah and was raised in Santa Fe. In 1950, she met and married the “Love of Her Life”, James E. Stallings.

A Celebration of life Read More

MICHAEL ELI ALVAREZ March 20, 2022

Michael Eli Alvarez was a caring son, husband, father, uncle, brother, and friend.

He passed away in his home March 20, 2022 at the age of 51. He fought a courageous battle with cancer, surrounded by loved ones who will honor his legacy by living their lives to the fullest.

Michael graduated from Alameda High School in Lakewood, Colorado and went on to receive a Culinary Art degree at the Colorado Institute of Arts. From there, he managed many food service hospital accounts working for Sodexo and Aramark.

He met the love of his life, Carmela, while working at Sodexo. Read More

PATRICIA JEAN HARLOW Aug. 3, 1927 – March 17, 2022

Patricia Jean (Nystuen) Harlow died peacefully on March 17, Saint Patrick’s Day, 2022, in Los Alamos, New Mexico, at age 94.

She was born on August 3, 1927, in Room 2, at the Northfield Hospital in Northfield, Minnesota. Her mother, Mary Elizabeth (Cooey) Nystuen, was from Le Center, Minnesota, the youngest of eight children. Her father, Oscar Nystuen, was from Milford, Iowa, the sixth child in a family of nine.

Oscar was a supporter of crop rotation, specifically alfalfa preceding the preferred crop. Mary was a devoted schoolteacher and mother. Read More

DAVE TENNESSEN March 18, 2022

David M. Tennessen (“Dave”), 68, of Los Alamos, NM passed on unexpectedly, and to the heartbreak of many, on Friday March 18, 2022.

Dave was born to Mary and Robert Tennessen in 1953 in Chicago, Illinois. He grew up in Chicago and loved visiting and staying with his grandparents in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. Dave loved camping and scouting and he achieved the rank of Life Scout in the Boy Scouts of America.

He attended Rose Hulman Institute of Technology, graduating with a degree in electrical engineering. He began his career working for Honeywell, followed by a 30+ year Read More

ERNESTINE KEADY Oct. 5, 1932 – Feb. 27, 2022

Ernestine Keady, age 89, passed away Sunday, Feb. 27, 2022. She was born in Malden, MA to her parents, Leroy and Helen Grant Oct. 5, 1932.

Ernestine married Charles J. Keady June 6, 1954. They were residents of New Mexico since 1954 in Albuquerque and Los Alamos. She and her husband belonged to the Irish American Society.

Ernestine was an R.N. from 1953 until her retirement.

She is survived by her sister Marjorie Grant; children Susan, Carol, Steven and David; grandchildren: Nicholas, Kimberly, Meghan, Jordyn; great-grandchildren: Merriah, Mahli, Read More

JOSEPH L. UHER March 13, 2022

Joseph L. Uher, 90, of Los Alamos passed away gently surrounded by family at his home Sunday March 13, 2022.

Joseph was a US Navy Veteran, serving in the 1950’s as a First Class Machinist Mate. He went on to have careers at both Brookhaven National Laboratory and Los Alamos National Laboratory, retiring as a mechanical technician.

He was an active member of St. Paul the Apostle, and a 4th degree Knight of Columbus in Pueblo West, Colorado. Together with his wife, Joseph also enjoyed being members of the Edison Region Car Club in Ft. Meyers, FL, and the Texas region of AACA, Read More

ANNE VALVERDE Nov. 20, 1933 – March 13, 2022

Our dear sweet beloved Anne passed away on Sunday, March 13, 2022. She passed away peacefully at home where she was loved and cared for until the very end.

Anne lived and passed on her own terms, which is exactly the way she wanted it.

She was a loving wife, a wonderful mom, a caring grandma, and an amazing friend. Anne loved to go to the casino, play pool, play cards, travel, and visit with family and friends. Everyone that met Anne adored her, she was always the life of the party.

She is deeply missed, and so loved by all who knew her. She has left her mark on us and Read More

GARY L. GREEN Oct. 31, 1944 – March 5, 2022

Gary L. Green, 77, of Albuquerque and formerly of Los Alamos, passed away peacefully with his family by his side on Saturday, March 5, 2022 after a brief illness.

He is survived by his loving wife of 17 years Margie, daughters Dawn Groves (Larry), Jill Staveley (Brian), and Kim Gonzalez (Benny), stepsons Tom and Steve Morrison, seven grandchildren (Jessica, Vanessa, Alyssa, Kayla, Natalee, Jordan, and Danielle), and five great-grandchildren (Aleaha, Zailynn, Felicia, Mason, and Clara).

He was preceded in death by his first wife Jan in 2002.

Gary lived Read More

PAUL ANTHONY JARAMILLO, JR. 

Our beloved Paul A. Jaramillo Jr., a resident of Albuquerque and formerly of White Rock, slipped into eternity into the arms of our Heavenly Father unexpectedly on Wednesday, March 9, 2022.  

Paul was a loving husband, father, son, brother, and uncle who loved and cherished his family with all of his heart. Paul Jr. impacted countless lives and is dearly loved by many.

Paul loved spending time with family and enjoyed teasing them. He enjoyed fishing and going to the gym early in the morning before returning to see his kids off to school. He enlisted in the US Army in 2018 Read More

ELIZABETH “BETTY” WOOD (Schmuck) Nov. 28, 1920 – Dec. 22, 2021

Elizabeth “Betty” Wood, 101, died peacefully in her bed December 22nd, 2021, at Sombrillo Nursing Home in Los Alamos, New Mexico.

Betty was born November 28th, 1920, in Sequim, Washington to Ernest August Schmuck (1883-1967) and Mercie Almeda Smith (1890-1947). The youngest of seven children, Betty grew up on her family’s farm on the coast of Sequim Bay.

On August 7, 1941, she married Brian Herman Wood (1921-1971) and had three children. Hopping from place to place they finally settled in New Mexico where she drove a school bus and Read More

LORETTA ELLEN STAPLETON May 28, 1955 – March 5, 2022

Loretta Ellen Stapleton of Cody, WY passed away peacefully on March 5, 2022.

A rosary will be prayed at Ballard Funeral Home on Saturday, March 12, 2022 at 2pm with a funeral service to follow at the funeral home at 3pm.

Loretta was born May 28, 1955 in Guthrie, Oklahoma to Marjorie Hedgecock and Clyde Teuscher. She attended Guthrie High School, graduated from Rose State College with a degree in Nursing, and later receiving a Master’s degree in Nursing Education.

In 1977, she met the love of her life, James Stapleton, in Kansas. They were married Read More

ROGER ELLIS WATERMAN Feb. 12, 1947 – March 5, 2022

Roger Waterman of Los Alamos, passed away March 5, 2022 from a rare, aggressive form of skin cancer.

Roger was born in Wichita, Kansas Feb. 12, 1947 to Alice Brigham Waterman and Robert “Bob” Waterman. He was the middle son, tall and red-headed and wore glasses early. The young family moved to Los Alamos in 1947 where Bob worked as a guard at East Gate and his sons had the run of a safe post-war community.

Among his early jobs, Roger sold snow cones and drove a moving van around the western United States. Early travels with his parents likely planted the Read More

MAGDALENA NORWOOD (1940-2022)

Magdalena Norwood (1940-2022), known to her family and friends as Lilly, has gone to be with all of her dogs and friends that went before her.

She was a force of nature … often referred to as our “little German energizer bunny”. She never missed an opportunity to scold and advise us that we really ought to teach our pets proper manners. She said, “The meaner and crazier they are the more we have to love them.”

The meanest, most cantankerous, insecure dogs and people were drawn to her … coincidence? I think not. She once encountered a burglar in her home … she got a frying pan Read More