Obituaries (Oct. 30, 2025)

Dorothy Faye Duncan

1934-2025

Dorothy Faye Duncan was born in Cordell, Okla., on Sept. 6, 1934. She lived in Oklahoma until she was 8, then in Plainview, Texas, until the age of 12, and then Albuquerque, where she attended Lincoln Junior High and Albuquerque High School.

Her and Jim’s relationship developed rather quickly and, upon his return from the U.S. Army boot camp, he proposed to her and they were married on Dec. 24, 1951, before he was deployed to South Korea. They were apart until 1953 when he had been honorably discharged from the Army.

She was employed at Woolworth’s Department Store in the jewelry department and the soda fountain. She also worked at Integrated Technologies as a manager until 1976, where they developed one of the first tabletop tennis games. This game looked like an astronaut helmet on a stand, with a small screen to play on.

She attended Edith Street Baptist Church, and she had accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior at a Billy Graham Conference in Albuquerque. When her husband, Jim, was ordained as a pastor in 1958, she worked alongside him to build the first church, Los Lunas Christian Church, and the second church was Mountain View Community Church. Both were in Los Lunas. Los Lunas Christian Church evolved into Grace Fellowship, in Los Lunas.

She was a very strong Christian, a Proverbs 31 woman, with a strong faith in Jesus.

In 1964, they opened a small mobile home park, expanded in 1977 and again in 1988. She drove the tractor and did much of the work in the mobile home park and always worked hard.

She did woodwork, sewed, crocheted and knitted. She was once titled the fastest knitter in Valencia County with the Valencia County Extension Club. She used her talents to benefit others, such as crocheting small caps for preemie babies and for adult cancer patients. Once done, she would deliver them to the hospitals in Albuquerque. She enjoyed helping others as much as possible.

Now, she is in her new heavenly home and with her Savior Jesus Christ, and her husband, who had gone to his heavenly home on June 1, 2024. She was instantly in her new body and in the presence of Jesus.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 73 years, Jimmy E. Duncan; her father, Shirley E. Trotter; her mother, Wilma Morris; and her three sisters, Shirlene Rainey, Wilma Jensen and Mary Tutt.

She is survived by her daughter, Laura and husband, Steven T. Murphy; her three granddaughters, Stephanie Martinez and husband, Vicente and daughters, Tommi and Abigail, Amber Vetsch and husband, William, Emily Delgado and husband, Marcos, and sons, Mateo and Oliver.

She was always proud of her family and loved us wholeheartedly. It’s not goodbye. We love you and we’ll see you soon.

A service for Dorothy took place on Saturday, Oct. 25, at the Los Chavez Baptist Church.

Arrangements are being handled by the caring professionals at the Noblin Funeral Service Belen Chapel, where an online guest register is available at noblin.com.

Barbara Marsh

1939-2025

Barbara Ann Marsh passed away peacefully at Caritas House Assisted Living, in Baltimore, Maryland, on Oct. 3, 2025. She was 86.

Barbara had moved to Maryland from Rio Communities in 2022 to be closer to her daughter, Kelly, and her family.

Barbara and her husband, Glenn Marsh, (deceased 2008) moved to Rio Communities in 1987. They greatly enjoyed being part of the community, becoming members of the Tierra Del Sol Golf Club and Our Lady of Belen Catholic Church. Barbara enjoyed working at the Bank of Belen and My Bank for several years as a teller. Always a social butterfly, Barbara enjoyed chatting with customers and creating long friendships with her colleagues.

Barbara was born and raised in various towns in Connecticut and Queens, N.Y. She graduated from Darien High School in 1958 and began her banking career soon after. She moved to New Mexico in 1970, and began working at Albuquerque National Bank, which then became Sunwest Bank.

She met her husband, Glenn, there and they married in 1980. They settled in Edgewood for six years before moving to Belen.

Barbara loved New Mexico from the time she arrived, and found adventure across the state. She took up hot air ballooning with friends on weekends, mostly participating in the chase crew. She enjoyed visiting the state’s northern mountains around Taos, festivals in Santa Fe, and birding in the Bosque del Apache.

Her favorite time of year was fall, when the smell of roasting green chile permeated the air. She was a happy member of the Ladies of the Hood friend group from Rio Communities, dear friends who offered great support to her as she aged.

Barbara will be interred at the Santa Fe National Cemetery with Glenn on a date to be determined.

She is survived by her daughter, Kelly Strzelecki (Mike); stepdaughter, Katherine Lynn (Pat); grandchildren, Brian Lynn (Laura), Zi Li Strzelecki, Graham Strzelecki, Myah Lynn, Graham Lynn and Chandler Veal; brother, Richard Stevenson, and many nieces and nephews.

Barbara was preceded in death by her husband, Glenn Marsh; her parents, James Stevenson and Leola Stevenson; daughter, Kerrie Kirby; and brothers, James Stevenson and Brian Stevenson.

Steven G. “Hey Now” Sanchez

1950-2025

Steven Sanchez, born and raised in Belen, passed away at the family home with his loving family beside him on Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025.

Funeral arrangements with Romero Funeral Home. Services will be held Thursday, Nov. 6, at Our Lady of Guadalupe in Los Chavez, beginning with a visitation at 9 a.m., a Rosary at 10 a.m., and a Funeral Mass to be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Interment will follow at Our Lady of Belen Memorial Gardens.

Steven was the 12th child out of 16 born to Felipe and Brijida Sanchez.

Steven was preceded in death by his parents, brothers, Apolonio, Juan, Pepo, Fidel, Samuel, Cristoval, Leroy, Gilberto and Ernesto; sisters, Florinda, Viola and Maria; and his brothers and sister-in-law, Red Kasner, Robert Hanson, Manuel Baca and Grace Sanchez.

Steven is survived by his two sons, Ronald and Daniel Sanchez; and their mom, Joann Tafoya. He is also survived by his daughter, Renee Montoya (Lee), who was his always there for him and his constant caregiver. Steven has two grandsons, Steven Sanchez and Damion Montoya (Andrea). He was blessed with five great-grandchildren, Alexa, Estevan, Aspen, Luciana and Leilani.

He is survived by his remaining siblings, Nattie Baca, twin brother Felipe Sanchez (Jerry) and Lorencita Hanson. He is also survived by his in-laws, Corrine Sanchez, Sandi Sanchez, Fab Sanchez, Hazel Martinez, Dorothy Sanchez and Willie Lucero. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends, and by his friend, Mark Jaramillo, who he considered family.

Pallbearers are Steven and Estevan Sanchez, Damion Montoya, Edward Lucero, Joseph Jaramillo, Felipe (Pepo) Sanchez, Mark Sanchez, Lee Montoya, and Mark Jaramillo. Honorary pallbearers are his great-granddaughters, Alexa, Andrea, Aspen, Luciana and Leilani.

Steven was a friend to so many people in the community. He loved his large family and was proud to be one of three sets of twins born to his parents.

He was always the first to lend a hand to those in need. He was also head of security at Al’s Mini Mart for many years. He loved hunting with his brothers, sons, grandsons and great-grandson. He enjoyed spending time at the family ranch in the Manzanos. He loved his family and will be missed by all who knew him and loved him. Hey now!

Please sign Steven’s online tribute at romerofuneralhomenm.com. Romero Funeral Home, 609 N. Main St., Belen.