- Date Of Birth: February 3, 1923
- Date Of Death: January 31, 2023
- State: New Mexico
Fred M. Sandoval Jr. passed away on Tuesday, January 31st, 2023 in Albuquerque, NM.
Fred was born February 3rd, 1923 to Fred Sandoval Sr. and Ofelia T. Sandoval near Las Cruces, NM. He is survived by five children, Dr. L. Victor Sandoval (Mary), Las Cruces, NM; Mark E. Sandoval, Bismarck, ND; Philip F. Sandoval (Martha). Billings, MT; Anita M. Brandenburg (Scott), Fargo, ND; and Dr. Jerry Q. Sandoval, Albuquerque, NM; ten grandchildren, Mark, Robert, Kelli, and Lyndsey (Victor); Brandon and Alexis (Philip); Elizabeth and Sean (Anita); Eric and Jacob (Jerry); and one of six siblings, Josephine S. Sprigg, Rio Rancho, NM.
He is predeceased by Bertha L. Sandoval, his loving spouse of 70 years, and mother of his six children; his eldest son, Michael A. Sandoval; dear daughter-in-law, Dawn Marie (Jerry); dear granddaughter, Lisa Marie (Jerry); and five siblings, Maria Louisa S. Lucero, Sylvia S. Gale, Jose B. Sandoval, Rupert M. Sandoval, and Ophelia S. Rinaldi.
At 4 ½ years of age, Fred went to live with his aunt-godmother (Mother’s sister), Anita T. Mares, in Taos, NM. He received grammar and high school education in NM schools.
Fred served 38 months in the US Army during WWII and received an honorable discharge as a disabled veteran with rank of Staff Sergeant. He held life-time memberships with the Disabled American Veterans, and with the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Fred received a BS degree in agronomy from New Mexico State University; an MS in soil science and plant nutrition from University of Idaho; and postgraduate in advanced soil chemistry and physics at Utah State University. As an undergraduate, he was elected to Alpha Zeta, honorary professional fraternity in Agriculture. As a graduate, he was elected to the Society of Sigma Xi, Idaho and Utah State chapters.
Fred enjoyed and received great satisfaction from professional work, but his greatest enjoyment was camping, hunting, and fishing in North and South Dakota, and Montana. In retirement, he felt great pleasure tending his lawns and garden, and working in his hobby “Ranchito” near Bozeman, MT. His greatest personal pleasure was taking his family on many camping trips in western Canada and western USA mountain areas. He enjoyed several trips to South America and Mexico with his beloved Bertha and his dear cousin, Fillie Garcia from Taos, NM.
Following final retirement in 1991, Fred moved with Bertha back to their home state of New Mexico, where they resided for 22 years in Rio Rancho, before moving to various retirement facilities in Albuquerque.
