Obituaries 

Jose Cristobal “Cris” Baca

1945-2025

On Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025, Jose Cristobal “Cris” Baca, 80, gained his wings and danced his way into the arms of his heavenly Father.

He will always be remembered for his devotion to God and family, and proudly held the title of honey, dad, Tatie, brother, uncle, friend and Raider fan. Behind his signature mustache, you would always find a beautiful smile, receive a life lesson through one of his “Dad” jokes or hear him humming his favorite song as he reminded us daily that faith in God, humor and a good dancing tune can outlast any of life’s challenges.

He was born on Sept. 24, 1945, in a small adobe home in Adelino to Antonio and Margaret Baca, where his love of God and family were rooted. He was the oldest of five mischievous Baca boys, Louie (wife, Patty), Ben (wife, Glenda), Ray (wife, Agnes) and Anthony (wife, Delfine).

Raised on a strong farm boy work ethic and Catholic values, Cris was a lifelong member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Tomé, and for more than 40 years proudly strummed his guitar with the choir at the 10 o’clock Mass.

Throughout his life, Cris, cherished his family above all else. He met the love of his life and “honey,” Susan, at Belen High School (Class of 1964) and were married on June 13, 1964. He would say that he brought his little city girl to the country and it was in Adelino, where for 61 years, they built an extraordinary life with their children, his hito and car expert, Christopher and wife, Jaime; his hita and favorite hairdresser, Cynthia Benavidez and husband. Pete; his best bud and sidekick, Craig; and his favorite baby, Claudette Riley and husband Tim (Timmy).

His legacy will live on through his greatest pride and joy, his grandchildren, who he cherished with his whole heart and would enjoy attending any academic, sporting or life event. His “boys,” Nathan (wife, Mary), Ryan (wife, Maggi), Justin, Brandon (wife, Araceli) and David and his “baby girls,” Samantha (husband, Damian), Madison and Adriana; and his great-grandchildren, Ember, Scarlett, Noelle, Zoey, Dalia, Noah and Cody.

Retired from General Electric in 2006 as a plumber/pipefitter after 21 years and following a 16-year career with Lindy Gas Services, his work ethic was unparalleled and throughout his career, Cris, made a positive impact on the lives of many and made several friends along the way.

For 15 years, he was a volunteer firefighter for the Tomé-Adelino Fire Department. He was a former member of the Classic Chevy Club, where, through many car shows, he would show off his late brother Louie’s creation and his tangerine baby, his 1956 Chevy Nomad. He loved a good find at a flea market or thrift store, especially if it was an old car part that could be added to his collection of goodies for his shop.

To say he was a Raiders fan, would be an understatement; he loved watching football alongside his honey, especially when his Raiders were beating her Broncos. Anyone brave enough to challenge him at dominoes learned quickly that his “beginner’s luck” never ran out — he was the champ and loved every second of proving it.

He had a strong love of music and dancing, and you would catch him strumming his guitar along with his boys or pulling one of his girls onto the dance floor for a good ol’ fashioned two-step.

Cris is preceded in death by his parents, Antonio and Margaret; his brothers, Louie, Ben and Ray; his son-angel baby, Casey; and great-granddaughter, Naomi Benavidez.

Pallbearers will be his “boys,” Nathan, Ryan, Justin, Brandon, and David. The honorary pallbearers will be his “girls,” Samantha, Madison and Adriana; and best friend, Louie Salas.

Services will take place at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church on Tuesday, Dec. 16, starting with a visitation at 10:30 a.m., a Rosary at 11:30 a.m. and a Funeral Mass to be celebrated at 12 p.m.

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

Catherine Anne Estrada

1959-2025

Catherine Anne Estrada passed away on Nov. 24, 2025, from pancreatic cancer.

She was born Catherine Anne Haight on Jan. 21, 1959, in Alamogordo, N.M., to parents, James and Anna Haight. She graduated from Alamogordo High School and attended the University of New Mexico, where she earned a Bachelor of Music degree. She eventually earned a Master of Education degree from Grand Canyon University.

A devoted wife, mother and grandmother, Catherine taught elementary music to thousands of students in Los Lunas. She enjoyed playing her flute and passing that skill on to many flute students. In addition, she loved performing with the Albuquerque Concert Band after her retirement from teaching.

Catherine was always busy with her music, reading and many crafts which included quilting, sewing, painting and calligraphy. She also enjoyed gardening and was an avid landscaping architect of the many projects around her property.

She loved numerous family pets throughout the years and could always be found with her pets at her side. She was an adventurous spirit, who loved to travel and enjoyed camping with her family in the summers.

She is survived by her husband, Henry; daughter, Erica and husband, Nathan Pelzel; daughter, Alexis and husband, Josh Dunn; and son, Bryan Estrada; parents Jim and Anna Haight; brothers, Jamie and Charles and wife, Andrea; grandchildren, Ella, Emmelina and Adelaide Pelzel and Theodore Dunn.

The family is requesting that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the St. Jude Children’s Hospital as indicated in the Facebook notification.

A celebration of life is planned for 1 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 13, at Central United Methodist Church in Albuquerque.

Bobby Gutierrez

1947-2025

Bobby Gutierrez, age 78, a resident of Los Lunas, passed away on Dec. 2, 2025. He was born is Santa Rosa, N.M.

Services will take place on Friday, Dec. 19, at Our Lady of Belen Catholic Church, starting with a visitation at 9:30 a.m., a Rosary at 10:30 a.m., and a Funeral Mass to be celebrated at 11 a.m. Interment will follow at Our Lady of Belen Memorial Gardens.

He had a passion for cars, sports, his family and his job. Bobby worked his entire life as a mechanic and became a master ASE certified mechanic; he eventually started his own business, Bobby’s Automotive, which has remained open for 25 years.

Bobby ran the company with his son and became an essential staple to the community. His shop has been voted Best Mechanic in Valencia County for the sixth year. Bobby was very loyal to his family and the work he did daily to provide for us. His passion and drive were remarkable, as well as his wit and charm.

He spent all his time either working or with the family. Bobby was an excellent father and provider throughout his lifetime. He always showed up for his family. Bobby was the glue that held us together. He was a strong pillar of knowledge mixed with a slap of reality due to his blunt nature and opinions at times.

His strength was unreal. I always looked up to him as my Superman; he would never let us down. All the hard work and tough love were so very appreciated by all of us, and there will never be another man like Bobby.

He married the love of his life, Elizabeth Lueras, on Dec. 11. They were blessed to be married for 49 amazing years.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Onecimo and Frances Sena Gutierrez; brothers, Ricky, Andy and Jerry Gutierrez; and father-in-law, Vernal Lueras.

Bobby is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Gutierrez; children, Steven Gutierrez (Stephanie), Roberta Gutierrez (Leo Chavez), and Edwina Gutierrez-Olivas (Martin); grandchildren, Francisco and Alexandra Maes, Cheyenne, Estevan, Leah, Ava and Brooke Gutierrez, and Mateo, Marisol and Myra Olivas; great-grandchildren, Tobias Maes, Maddox and Maze Olivas, and a special little one on the way; brothers, Mike, Rodney and Sam Gutierrez; sisters, Debbie Nicholson and Mary Alice Woody; and mother-in-law, Marylou Luereas.

Ray Jaramillo

1948-2025

Ray Jaramillo, born July 12, 1948, in Belen, passed away peacefully on March 25, 2025.

At the age of 20, Ray enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and served as a jet engine mechanic. After his service, he became the local mail carrier in Belen and, in later years, he embraced his love of building and fixing as a carpenter and all-around handyman.

Ray navigated life on his own terms, expressing his love not always with words but through his craftsmanship — building and creating something out of materials he found while going for a walk or camping into something of use.

His once-stubborn demeanor softened over time, especially as he spent more moments with his great-grandson, who brought out his laughter and smile. Time with “Grandpa Ray” meant playful games of trying to scare each other, playing with Hot Wheels and sneaking an extra cookie or two to share.

He is survived by his daughter, Michele; granddaughters, Alexandra and Dominique; great-grandchildren, Hudson and Jayci; and his brothers, Lawrence and Wilfred.

A service honoring Ray’s life will be held at 12:30 p.m., Friday, Dec. 26, where he will be laid to rest near his brother, Gilbert Jaramillo, at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Santa Fe.

For those planning on being in attendance, a few tips: arrive no earlier than 15 minutes ahead of scheduled time. Pull into the middle lane, and remain in your vehicles until the family line is escorted by cemetery staff to the committal shelter.

Frank Rivera

1929-2025

Frank Rivera, 96, passed away on Nov. 27, 2025, at his home in Los Lunas.

Frank was born on April 28, 1929, in Idalou, Texas, to Juan Rivera and Senovia Apodaca. As an only child, he was stubborn, independent and proud. He married his beloved wife, Maria “Celina” Rivera on Aug. 30, 1947, in Tucumcari, N.M. After beginning their lives together in Albuquerque and then settling in Tomé, Frank and Sally were proud of their heritage and the promise of the legacy they built together.

A dedicated man, Frank worked in construction from the age of 18. He was involved in several major construction projects in the Texas panhandle. As a member of the Tomé Catholic Church, Frank served as a construction consultant on the first addition to the parish hall.

Later in his career, he founded Frank’s Concrete, Inc., with his son, John, and they poured foundations together in Albuquerque and Los Lunas. His business expanded into home building in Valencia County until his retirement in 1998.

Frank’s first passion was his family, and he experienced no greater pride than in those moments where his family succeeded. He was incredibly proud of his children, even when their mischief and missteps would make him shake his head with laughter.

He cheered his daughter on in her academic pursuits, loved to watch his son’s show horses during high school and, when he became a grandfather, he enjoyed going to state and county fairs to watch his grandchildren show livestock. He was a fan of each of his grandchildren’s endeavors, whether it involved sports, agriculture, art, education or business.

For more than 20 years, Frank ran horses, frequenting the Downs at Sunland, Ruidoso, Albuquerque, Santa Fe and even racetracks in California. He was successful on the racetrack, and was overjoyed in 1996 when his stallion, Roll Into Mischief, won the world championship.

After raising his family and retiring from a successful business, Frank took up painting and woodcarving, often giving gifts of portraits, landscapes and hand-carved retablos to family and friends. He was passionate about his heritage and the historical connection between New Mexico and Spain, frequently bringing out primary documents, maps and photographs to share with anyone who showed an interest.

In his later years, Frank continued to embrace a simple life. He enjoyed sharing meals with family and friends, observing family traditions and sharing stories from years past.

Frank is preceded in death by his parents, only daughter, Connie Salas (Ysidro), of Silver City; and his loving wife, Sally.

He is survived by his sons, Frank Rivera (Cristina) of Las Cruces, John Rivera (Becky) of Los Lunas, and Daniel Rivera (Beth) of Hope, Ark. He also leaves behind four granddaughters, Selena, Felicia, Danieli and Celinal; five grandsons, TJ, Jace,

Cisco, John and Andrew; and nine great-grandchildren.

A visitation was held for Frank Rivera on Monday, Dec. 8, at Romero Funeral Home in Belen, and was followed by a rosary.

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

Ida Montano Vallejos

1942-2025

It is with saddened hearts we announce the passing of Ida Montano Vallejos, who resided in Los Lunas, N.M. She passed away peacefully, surrounded by her loved ones on Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025.

Ida was born in Gallup on Oct. 30, 1942. She was the daughter of Candido and Lugarda Montano, of San Mateo, N.M.

Ida is survived by her brother, Lalo Montano; daughter, Margie Perea (Wences); son, Candido Chavez (Natalie); stepdaughter, Denise Kline (Jimmy); and daughter-in-law, Judy Abeita-Chavez; grandchildren, Angelina Silva, Marisa Garcia (Josh), Johnna Pena, Marcos, Jeffrey, Ashley and Timmy Chavez and Luke Rodriguez; great-grandchildren, Josiah, Rosie, Myah, Antonio, Carmella, Mikey Pena and Johnny Michael Pena III; and other great-grandchildren along with numerous nieces, nephews, special family members and friends.

Ida fostered many children whom she cared for and loved.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Candido and Lugarda Montano; husband, Andy Vallejos; son, Jeffrey Montano; grandson, Johnny Pena Jr.; sisters, Terry Salazar and

Monica Salazar; brother, Max Montano; son-in-law, Mark Perea; stepchildren, Elaine Vaisa, Tony Vallejos and Danny Vallejos.

Ida was a member of the San Clemente Catholic Church in Los Lunas. Ida cared deeply and loved her family unconditionally. She was well known throughout Los Lunas and the surrounding area.

She worked as a hairdresser and owned a shop for many years. Ida was especially known for her kindness and generosity to many families in need. She will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.

The family would like to give special thanks to the nursing staff (Teri, Olivia) from High Desert Hospice, and to Jessica “Consuela” Kirk who also cared for Ida.

Announcement of services will be forthcoming.