Obituaries

GAILEN HART HOOPER July 25, 1932 – Nov. 20, 2022

Gailen Hart Hooper received his angel wings on November 20, 2022 when the Lord called him from Las Cruces, NM to his forever home surrounded by family and friends at his bedside.

Gailen was born July 25, 1932, to Foster Hollar “Pete” Hooper and Mary Jeff (Hart) Hooper in Lovington, NM. His growing up years were spent in Lovington, NM; Monument, NM; Visa, CA; Long Beach, CA and Victorville, CA. He attended Poly High School in Long Beach, CA and graduated from Lovington High School in 1950. Gailen attended college at Eastern NM University in Portales, NM. Read More

RICHARD DONALD ‘DICK’ FOSTER  July 20, 1933 – June 8, 2023

Richard Donald “Dick” Foster of White Rock, New Mexico, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family on June 8, 2023.

He was born July 20, 1933 in Weedville, Pennsylvania, the son of Joseph Foster and Clara Wolf Foster. He and Marilyn Cover were married on August 5, 1961, in Saint Sebastian Church in Akron, Ohio. They shared a beautiful 61-year marriage.

In addition to Marilyn, he is survived by three daughters: Mary (Greg) Valentine of Williamsville, New York; Dorothy (Mark) Silvanic of Monument, Colorado; Catherine (Bill) Brockman Read More

BETTY JANE ELLESTAD March 26, 1927 – June 8, 2022

Betty Jane Ellestad was born and raised in Madison, Wisconsin. She and Charles Harper were married there March 27, 1947, and started a life neither had ever anticipated. 

Betty had two uncles who worked in Los Alamos and they encouraged Betty and Charlie to move to Los Alamos, New Mexico. Their possessions fit into a car and they drove to Los Alamos, Betty crying all the way as she loved family and was leaving her family in Madison.

What fun stories she always told about living in the married couples dorm in Los Alamos when they moved there!!! The couples Read More

HANSJÖRG ‘JORG’ JANSEN June 6, 2023

It is with a great sadness and a heavy heart that we announce the unexpected and sudden passing of our beloved husband, best friend and 62 year companion Hansjörg “Jorg” Jansen who left us on Wednesday June 6, 2023.

Jörg grew up and was educated as an electrical engineer in Germany. Brigit, his wife, grew up and was educated as a chemist in Switzerland. They both came to the US in 1960 and 1959 respectively, for one year, out of curiosity. Their common life started in 1961, when they got married in Rockport, Mass.

They lived in Magnolia, near Gloucester, and worked Read More

JERRY LYNN HOFER Feb. 13, 1952 – June 6, 2023

Jerry passed suddenly on June 6th after a short illness from neuroendocrine carcinoma.  He was only ill for three weeks and passed at Christus St. Vincent Hospital in Santa Fe with his family tenderly caring for him and sharing memories until the very end.

Jerry was born to Harris (“Blackie”) and Marilyn (Stroup) Hofer on February 13, 1952. He was born in Pierre, South Dakota and raised in Fort Pierre, South Dakota. He graduated from the Fort Pierre Schools in 1970 where he participated in basketball and track. He was very proud of the relay team that he was Read More

NATALIE HOLTGREWE June 21, 1939 – Feb. 28, 2023

Natalie Holtgrewe passed away peacefully Feb. 28 with her husband and two children at her bedside.

Born in Hollis, Oklahoma June 21, 1939, daughter of Francis and Tyce Younger, Natalie was one of 5 children. 

She is survived by her husband and life-long partner of 57 years, Victor, their son, Vance Holtgrewe and daughter, Shauna Jones, grandchildren, Cadee Lynn Holtgrewe, Jared Tyler Holtgrewe, Dehle Paige Jones and Tressa Lynn Jones, her brother Bart Younger, sister-in-law Sandra Younger, daughter-in-law, Taresa Holtgrewe, son-in-law, Read More

WALLACE TED HUNTER June 6, 2023

Wallace Ted Hunter, 80, of Chattanooga, passed away, Tuesday, June 6, 2023.

He served in the U.S. Navy for 5 years. Ted worked at Los Alamos and Oak Ridge National labs as a mechanical (magnet) engineer, until his retirement in 2011. He enjoyed woodworking of all kinds.

He was predeceased by his parents, Robert Hunter & Juanita Bentley and brother, Ken Myers; stepson, Nicolaus Lisowski.

Survivors include his wife, Sharon Hunter; daughter, Amy (Jay) Flores; sons, William (Collette) Hunter, Ashley Hunter; stepson, Peter (Jenny) Lisowski; six grandchildren; Read More

Most Reverend Michael Jarboe Sheehan July 9, 1939 – June 3, 2023

From The Archdiocese Of Santa Fe:

ALBUQUERQUE – It is with sadness and profound faith in the Risen Christ, Most Reverend John C. Wester, Archbishop of Santa Fe, announced that Most Reverend Michael Jarboe Sheehan, Archbishop Emeritus of Santa Fe, passed away June 3, 2023.

Archbishop Emeritus Sheehan, a beloved spiritual leader, was born on July 9, 1939, and dedicated his life to the service of God and his community, leaving an indelible mark on the hearts of those around him. He was ordained on July 12, 1964, in Rome, Italy by Auxiliary Read More

VERNA AMY TRUJILLO Sept. 2, 1964 – June 2, 2023

Friday, June 2, 2023, Verna Amy Trujillo passed away after her long battle with diabetes surrounded by family members who had been caring for her.

Verna was born and raised in the Española Valley where, for the last twenty years, she made a home with the love of her life and fiancée, Manny Martinez. She was the Accessibility Resource Coordinator at Northern New Mexico College where she worked supporting student services for nearly two decades.

Verna earned her Bachelor of Science and master’s degree in psychology from the College of Santa Fe, spending Read More

MARK BOOKHOUT June 30, 1953 – May 27, 2023

Saturday, May 27, 2023, Mark Bookhout passed away at home in Los Alamos, surrounded by those who loved him best.

Mark was born June 30,1953 to Robert and Wanda (Barry) Bookhout in Oneonta, New York, the first of four boys. He grew up in Sidney, NY, graduated from college at SUNY Geneseo, and got his Certificate in Physical Therapy from the Mayo School of Physical Therapy in Rochester Minnesota in 1977.

In 1981 Mark began his studies in Orthopedic Manual Therapy at the Institute of Graduate Health Sciences in Atlanta, GA, a move which changed his life in many Read More