Obituaries

BRENT EVANS BOYACK June 10, 1940 − Nov. 9, 2024

Brent Evans Boyack, beloved husband, father, brother, and grandfather, passed away after a short, serious illness Nov. 9, 2024, at home in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Brent was born June 10, 1940, in Provo, Utah to Harold Joshua and Dona Fay Evans Boyack.

Brent spent his childhood and growing up years in Provo where, as a teenager, he worked as a janitor for the Provo City Schools learning to work hard. He graduated from Provo High School where he met the love of his life, Marcia Wiser. Brent and Marcia were married June 9, 1961 in the Salt Lake City Temple of Read More

PATRICIA ANN LANIER KIRK Sept. 5, 1933 – Nov. 6, 2024 

Sunrise: September 5, 1933; Sunset: November 6, 2024. Patricia Ann Lanier was born in Decatur, Alabama to Charner and Pearl Lanier. Born with a heart for adventure and a keen intelligence, she grew up in Savannah, Tennessee with her dear sister, Bettye.  

In 1953, Pat married Lt. William L. Kirk (USAF), and they lived in many different cities before settling in Los Alamos, New Mexico.

Pat had a variety of careers, and owned several businesses, including Kachina Preschool and Aspen Realty. Never one to sit and rest, Pat also led multiple philanthropies, Read More

DEA JEAN (PETTY) RENFRO June 11, 1950 – Oct. 30, 2024

Dea was born in Wichita, Kansas in 1950. She graduated from Los Alamos High School, attended UNM, and became a dental hygienist. She married Larry Renfro in 1970. In 1972, they welcomed their only son, Steve.

Dea is survived by Steve, her 2 grandchildren, Genevieve and Jackson, and their mother, Jennifer. She is also survived by two sisters, Lee Ann Waterman (husband Ted), Sue Harper (husband Ron), sister-in-law Shelli Petty (Mullins), and her wonderful mother-in-law Mary Renfro, together with many nephews, nieces and cousins.

Dea’s parents Read More

PHYLLIS ABBIE KIRKPATRICK July 8, 1938 – Oct. 18, 2024

Phyllis was born July 8, 1938 to George Nelson and Irma (Cousins) Furbeck, in Mexico City, Mexico. Phyllis’s fond memories of growing up in Mexico City include Sunday dinners after church with her family, friends at the American School, and earthquakes during which the city seemed to rock on the lake. She loved the sight of the mountains all around the city.

During 2nd grade, at the height of WWII, Phyllis and her older sister, Irma Ann, went with their mother to live with their grandmother in New Orleans, LA, while her father served as a US Army Read More

PEGGY ANN BOWEN September 2024

Peggy Ann Bowen, 77, a trailblazing attorney, social justice advocate, and cherished friend passed away in September.

Born in Paris, Arkansas and raised in Carlsbad, New Mexico, she graduated from Carlsbad High School in 1965 and received a full scholarship to Washington University in St. Louis. Peggy earned her Juris Doctorate from the UNM School of Law in 1973.

She had the distinction of being among the first 100 women attorneys admitted to the New Mexico Bar. 

Also a member of the Texas bar, early in her career, Peggy was in private practice in both Texas and Alamogordo, Read More

BRYAN EDWARD HOUTZ Nov. 24, 1954 – Nov. 7, 2024

Bryan was born in Los Alamos, New Mexico, son of Jeanne Carpenter Houtz and Harry Edward Houtz, Jr. He was the second of four children and he grew up hunting, fishing, and roaming the canyons and mountains of northern New Mexico. He was an active member of Boy Scout  Explorer Post 20.  He graduated from Los Alamos High School in 1973 and attended the Denver Automotive and Diesel College.

After graduating, Bryan enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1974. He served on board the USS Coral Sea during the Iranian hostage crisis, and earned the Navy Read More

CHRISTOPHER BRUELL Dec. 11, 1942 – Nov. 6, 2024

Christopher Bruell, born December 11, 1942, died peacefully at home on November 6, 2024 after a long illness.

Chris was a professor of political philosophy at Boston College for 41 years. He retired to Los Alamos from Boston in 2011.

Chris is survived by his beloved wife of 61 years, Marjorie, son Harry (Jenny), daughter Katie, and grandsons Leo Bruell (Rachel), Peter Watson, and Andrew West. Read More

GRACE ELAINE (FELIX) ALEI March 21, 1930 – Oct. 20, 2024

On October 20, 2024, Grace Elaine (Felix) Alei died peacefully in her sleep after a rich life dedicated to others.

Born in Cleveland March 21, 1930, Elaine was a bright and curious child, leaving home after high school to attend Texas Tech where she received her degree in mathematics. She accepted a job at the newly public Los Alamos National Laboratory and worked as a programmer on some of the world’s first computers.

She enjoyed her free time hiking, playing tennis and folk dancing where she met her future husband, chemist Mohammed Alei.  Read More

MARILYN SUE (COVER) FOSTER May 11, 1935 – Oct. 13, 2024

Marilyn Sue (Cover) Foster passed away unexpectedly October 13, 2024, in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

She was born May 11, 1935, in Akron, Ohio to Berwyn and Hilda Cover. She married Richard Foster August 5, 1961, in Saint Sebastian Church in Akron, Ohio. They shared a beautiful 61 year marriage until his passing in 2023.

Marilyn graduated from the Elms High School, and the University of Akron and owned and operated the Cover School of Dance in Akron. She also graduated from the University of New Mexico and worked as a technical writer at the Los Alamos Read More

By ROBERT L. HENGSTENBERG Dec. 8, 1948 – Oct. 18, 2024 

Robert L. Hengstenberg (Bob) passed away Oct. 18, 2024, at the age of 75 from complications of Parkinson’s disease. Born Dec. 8, 1948, to Leo F. and Dolores E. Hengstenberg in Santa Fe, Bob was the eldest of three children.

He is survived by his wife Carol; his sisters Irene Holland and Carol McSmith (Bill); daughter Abigail Hengstenberg, son Robert W. Hengstenberg; grandchildren Harper Gamble, Mia Jaramillo (Juan) and Layla Tapia; in-laws Ann Zeltmann, Tom Zeltmann (Kay), and Jill Rice (Scott); and many nieces and nephews and their families. Read More