Obituaries

ROLAND CASPERSEN Dec. 16, 1936 – Jan. 3, 2021

A man of intellectual curiosity, laughter, love and friendship left earth Sunday, January 3, 2021, to join the heavenly hosts. He struggled with cancer for two years.

He was born to Roy and Astrid Caspersen on December 16, 1936, in Oslo, Norway. Worried about the war clouds looming over Europe, in January 1940, Roland’s grandfather, William Caspersen, joined his American born daughter, Astrid, in New York to prepare a new home in the United States.

Roland and his grandmother, Dagmar Caspersen, were to come in mid-April. Germany invaded Norway on April Read More

BARBARA (GRIEGO) JAMES Feb. 10, 1957 – Jan. 10, 2021

Barbara (Griego) James of Visalia, California passed away peacefully on Sunday, January 10, 2021 at the young age of 63.

Barbara was born on February 10, 1957 in Anchorage, Alaska. She grew up in Los Alamos, NM and graduated from Los Alamos High School in 1975.

She is preceded in death by her daughter Marie Johnson, parents David and Mary Griego, brother Don Griego and sister Rosanne Griego Kincaid.

Barbara retired from Visalia Unified School District in July, 2020 after 25 years of service. She was looking forward to traveling with her husband Read More

LOYAL DEAN ‘BEN’ BENHAM Jan. 8, 2021

Loyal Dean “Ben” Benham passed away January 8th, 2021 from heart failure in Corvallis, Oregon.

Ben was preceded by his beloved wife Millie. 

He is survived by his sons Tom and Jeff. Ben was a strong, caring supporter of his extended family and friends, and lover of the outdoors.

Ben was born in northern Minnesota, though he spent most of his youth in Washington state, working on farms and rebuilding cars even before he could drive. 

Ben and Millie met in Las Vegas while he was stationed at Nellis Air Force Base. When he was transferred to Spain, Millie followed, and Read More

HELEN ARCHULETA Aug. 15, 1939 – Jan. 3, 2021

Our beloved Helen Archuleta, 81 took her final breath on January 3, 2021, after a long battle with COVID-19. Surrounded by true heroes—the amazing health care workers and staff of Los Alamos Medical Center—who worked day in and day out risking their lives fighting to save hers.

Although it will be hard to fathom this earthly world without Helen physically here, she is now at eternal peace with God who led her spirit home to heaven and lives on in all those who had the pleasure of knowing her. 

Helen leaves behind the love of her life, Videlio “Phil” Archuleta Read More

JOHN ERIC RUNDBERG – May 13, 1986-Jan. 8, 2021

John Eric Rundberg, a resident of Socorro, New Mexico, died unexpectedly on Friday, January 8th in Santa Fe, New Mexico at the age of 34.

He was born May 13, 1986 in Los Alamos, New Mexico, the second of three children born to Bob and Ginger Rundberg. He grew up in Los Alamos, where he attended Los Alamos High School, played club rugby, and taught swimming lessons as a lifeguard at Canyon Vista Pool in White Rock.

He attended New Mexico Tech in Socorro, where he became involved with Pygmy Rugby, first as a player and later as the team’s unofficial photographer. Read More

JOSHUA DAVID MIKO Dec. 26, 2003 – Jan. 9, 2021

Joshua David Miko was born on December 26, 2003 and was called back to heaven at the age of 17 on January 9, 2021.

He died doing what he loved – camping.

Josh is the son of David and Janice Miko and was born and raised in Los Alamos.

Josh was preceded in death by his paternal grandfather, Joseph Miko; maternal grandparents, Charles and Barbara Heise; and uncle, Richard Heise.

He is survived by his parents; sister, Rebecca Miko; grandmother, Dolores Miko; and many other relatives and friends.

Josh was very active in the community, being a long-standing member Read More

LORING COX, JR. April 24, 1919 – Dec. 29, 2020

Loring Cox, Jr. was born on April 24, 1919 to Thomas Loring Cox and Araminta (Ninnie) Cox in Birch River, West Virginia. He grew up on a farm in rural West Virginia, back when rural meant very basic, as one of ten children.

After finishing school, he started working at a law firm, but soon had an opportunity to get a job with the federal government, which paid better and had more job security.

At the outbreak of World War II, he was stationed in Bermuda. He volunteered for the Army Air Corps, much to the displeasure of his boss. He wasn’t able to qualify as a pilot Read More

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TOMAS DURAN Jr Dec. 14, 1952 – Dec. 30, 2020

Tomas (Tom) Duran Jr, 68, of Farmington, NM passed away Wednesday December 30, 2020.

Tom was born December 14, 1952, in Albuquerque, NM to the late Tomas and Frances Duran of Cuba, NM. He grew up in Cuba, NM, with his six siblings.

After four years in the US Army, Tom relocated to Farmington, NM where he pursued his journeyman’s electrical license, laying the foundation for his professional career. During this time of professional development, he met and married his wife Rebecca (Becky) in 1980. The two welcomed twins Stephen and Linda in the Spring of 1982. Read More

WILLIAM WESLEY COMBS July 20, 1929 – Dec. 10, 2020

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of our beloved father, William Wesley Combs, Jr., who died on December 10, 2020 from COVID-19. He was 91.

The anguish we feel about his passing is difficult to describe. He was not a young man, but he was taken from us too soon. He still had things to do and to say.

But we choose to remember his remarkable life and character. Bill Combs was born on July 20, 1929 in Northeastern Mississippi (Houston) and raised in Raymond and Inverness. He graduated as Valedictorian from Inverness High School in 1947, and Read More