Obits April 13

Rowland G. Betz, 61

Rowland G. Betz, 61, of Portales died Saturday, April 10, 2004, at his home.

He was born on Oct. 3, 1942, in Philadelphia, Pa., to Ruth Elizabeth and Alfred Rowland Betz.

He grew up in Pennsylvania and attended school in Ivyland, Pa. He then entered the U.S. Army, where he served as a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne. Upon discharge, he began working in construction. He married Mary Ann Varney on Nov. 28, 1964, in Ivyland. They moved to Red River in 1974.

He continued working in construction until December 1985, when he and his family opened “The Bullpen” restaurant in Red River. They owned and operated the business as a family until 1992, when they moved to Portales. He worked for the Ryan Dairy for five years.

Family members said he was a craftsman who enjoyed woodworking, fishing and hunting. He was an honest, generous man who was devoted to his family.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Survivors include his wife; two sons, Rowland G. Betz Jr. (and wife Cynthia) of Earth, Texas, and Steven Betz (Jennifer) of Aurora, Colo.; a daughter, Kimberly Samarron (Arturo) of Roswell; five grandchildren, Eric and Erin Samarron of Roswell and Ashley, Blake and Lauren Betz of Earth; two sisters, Linda Jones (Bert) of Hershey, Pa., and Ruth Elizabeth Brackin of Lakeland, Fla.

Arrangements are by Wheeler Mortuary of Portales.

The family will hold private services at a later date.

Natividad Jimenez, 71

Natividad Jimenez, 71, died Sunday, April 4, 2004, at her daughter’s home west of Portales.

She was born Sept. 7, 1932, in Camargo, Mexico, to Amalia and Edmigio Barajas.

Until January, she had lived her entire life in Mexico, in Jimenez, a town named for her husband’s family. She was married to Lorenzo Jimenez, who died after only six months of marriage. From that time, she made her home with her sister Maria’s family and raised her nieces and nephews as her own.

Family members said she was devoted to her family, cooking and working for their comfort all her life. She enjoyed cooking for weddings, doing yard work and gardening, and crocheting and needlepoint. She was a faithful member of La Iglesia de la Fe in Cristo Jesus.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband.

Survivors include nieces and nephews, who, family members say, regard themselves as her sons and daughters: Jesus Jimenez of Commerce City, Colo., and Alejandro Jimenez of Portales; Elsa Jimenez of Portales and Teresa Jimenez of Moro Bay, Calif.; 37 grandchildren; a brother, Domingo Jimenez of Mexico City, Mexico; and three sisters, Maria Jimenez of Portales, Ascencion Jimenez of Mexico, and Virginia Jimenez of Clayton.

Burial will be at Portales Cemetery. Ernest Jaramillo will officiate.

Pallbearers will be Alejandro Jimenez, Roberto Jimenez, Henry Jimenez, Jesus Jimenez, Lorenzo Jimenez and Joel Jimenez.

Services are at 10 a.m. today at Wheeler Mortuary Chapel in Portales.