Obituaries

TOM KEENAN Oct. 8, 1924 – May 25, 2015

Dr. Thomas Kent Keenan died on Monday, May 25, 2015, at the age of 90 years. Tom was a long-time resident of Los Alamos, having come as a summer student in 1950. 

He was born in Fort Dodge, Iowa, on October 8, 1924, the only child of Robert & Margaret Keenan. He was educated in both public and Catholic schools and was active in the music program, playing saxophone in the High School Band, clarinet in Orchestra, and both instruments in a dance band. Tom’s Dad, Robert, had to travel most weeks so he was alone with his mother. She always read to him at night and endowed Read More

JAMES “JW” SMITH May 18, 2015

James “JW” Smith, 88, a resident of White Rock, passed away Monday, May 18, 2015 of “too many miles and not enough tread”.

Memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 23, 2015 at 1:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Peace of DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory.

The family of James “JW” Smith has entrusted the care of their loved one to the DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory of the Española Valley. 505.747.7477 – www.devargasfuneral.com. Read More

KEITH CONNETT RUSSELL IV June 12, 1983 – May 12, 2015

June 12, 1983 – May 12, 2015 Keith Connett Russell IV, 31 years old, passed away Tuesday, May 12, 2015.

Keith was born on June 12, 1983, in Birmingham, Alabama. Keith attended Indian Springs School and graduated from Rochester Institute of Technology with a Master’s Degree in Computer Technology.

He worked diligently for the Los Alamos National Laboratory and the Department of Energy as a contract employee where he created a groundbreaking program to protect the environment from nuclear waste that is now in demand in other countries. Read More

TODD MARK SANDER Dec. 14, 1964 – April 30, 2015

Todd Mark Sander was born in Seattle, WA on December 14, 1964, to Oscar R. Sander and Janet Blohm Sander. He shared his birthday with his sister, Julie Sander Bucknam, who was born two years later.  

Because his family moved often during Todd’s elementary school years, Todd changed schools every year until his family moved to White Rock in 1977. He then entered Mrs. Spingler’s sixth grade class at Pinon School.

He graduated from Los Alamos High School in 1982 and graduated magna cum laude from Northern Arizona University with both a B.S. degree in Read More

EARL MAZE May 11, 2015

Earl Maze, 95, a resident of Los Alamos, passed away on Monday, May 11, 2015. He was preceded in death by his wife, Bettye Maze.

Mr. Maze is survived by his children, Jay Maze and wife Sally and Cindy Maze all of White Rock; grandsons, Stephen Maze and wife Julie of White Rock and Kevin Maze of Albuquerque and other relatives and friends.

A funeral service will be held on Thursday, May 14, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Los Alamos. Private burial to take place.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to your favorite charity. The family of Earl Read More

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