Seledon F. Montoya

Seledon F. Montoya, 78, of Farmington, died Saturday, Dec. 27, 2008, at San Juan Regional Medical Center in Farmington. He was born Oct. 10, 1930, in Gobernador to Matias and Rebecca Montoya. Seledon retired from El Paso Natural Gas after 30 years. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Fidel Montoya, Leandro Montoya, Arsenio Montoya, Ramon Montoya, Manuel Montoya; sister Jennie Hair; and a baby daughter, Sylvia Marie Montoya. Survivors include Anita, his wife of 58 years; seven children, David Montoya, Maggie Mikkalsen, Martha and husband, Rex Sweetland, all of California, Seledon Montoya Jr., Robert Montoya, Frances and husband, John Largo, and Carla and husband, Juan Largo, of Farmington; grandchildren Erica Jones, Heather Mikkalsen, Michelle and Levi Miller, Sylvia Mikkalsen, Eric and Irene Sweetland, Rachel and Jason Jarrett, Carey Montoya, Danny Montoya, Christy Largo, Nathan Largo and Destanie Casaus; plus 11 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. Seledon Montoya will be remembered for his belief in God and Christian faith. He held great respect for the land and loved tilling the soil, growing his own vegetables and fruit on his two-acre farm. His favorite topic, besides discussing the Bible, was gardening. He was a hard-working man, instilling those work values in his children. No job was too small or too big and among his most amazing feats was his masonry work; building rock walls for people, whether to save their home foundations or to add an artistic flair to the landscape. He was particular in which rocks he used, and chose those that revealed a spiritual side of nature. The walls he built still hold today as a testimony to his sensitivity, hard work and dedication. When Seledon married Anita, he was barely 19 years old, and he proceeded to build his young wife a two-bedroom house, which he later extended into a bigger house. Seledon disliked being idle and worked to the very last, planting and caring for his farm. He cleared the land of cottonwood trees, which he hollowed out and used as planters. He strongly believed any piece of land should be put to good use. His motto was, "If you have a patch of land, work it." Pallbearers are Nathan Largo, Rick Valdez, Jim Hair, Danny Montoya, Sheldon Montoya and Russ Johnson. Honorary pallbearers are Eric Sweetland, John Largo, Andy Montoya, Rex Sweetland and Juan Romero. Arrangements are with Brewer, Lee & Larkin Funeral Home 103 E. Ute St. Farmington, NM (505) 325-8688