Isabel "Belle" Becker

Isabel M. “Belle” Becker, a life-long resident of the Espanola Valley died peacefully on April 7, 2018. She was 85.  She was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, Joe, her parents, Jose V. and Amabel M. Archuleta, and her brothers, Johnny and “Butch”.  She is survived by her sisters, Martha Archuleta and Norma Evans (Robert), brothers-in-law, Chuck Becker (Pat), and Gene Becker, her children, Paulette Becker, Joanne Karlson (Ken), Joe Becker (Rose DesGeorges), Isabel Becker - Hudson (Marc) and Ellen Becker - Jaffe (Brad), six grandsons, Luke (Shelley) and Ben(Emily White) Karlson, Jesse Davis (Kyleigh), Nicholas Hudson and Jared and Alex Jaffe, three granddaughters, Emily Karlson, Katie (Gilbert) Ramirez and Aubrey Hudson, ten great-grandchildren and hundreds of friends.

Always active in her community, Belle was a member of the Amantes de Flores Garden Club and worked tirelessly with them on many clean-up campaigns and beautification projects in the Valley.  She was on the Foundation Board for Northern New Mexico Community College, a Board member of Amigos del Valle, and a member of the Espanola Valley Opera Guild from its inception until her death. During the 1990’s Belle wrote “La Vida Española” a colorful social column in the Santa Fe New Mexican about news and activities in the Valley. In 2015, Belle and her dear friend, Isabel Zeigler were named Espanola’s “Living Treasures” for their many contributions to the Valley’s quality of life.

Near and dear to her heart was Santa Cruz de la Cañada Catholic Church where she was baptized and was a faithful parishioner until her death.  Belle and Joe were instrumental in the Church’s restoration project from 1972-1980 and she was a long-time member of the Altar and Rosary Society. In 2016, while her health was failing, she undertook a massive clean-up of the Santa Cruz Cemetery with the help of many wonderful friends.

Belle was a classy lady and a spitfire with an infectious laugh.  She was fond of saying, “You have to leave a place better than you found it.”  MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

In lieu of flowers, please donate to Parkinson’s research, the charity of your choice, or simply do a good deed. Belle would have liked that most of all. A rosary will be recited on Monday, April 16, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. at La Iglesia de Santa Cruz de la Canada, with a Mass of Christian burial to be held at 11:00 a.m., with a burial to follow at 1:30 p.m. at the Santa Fe National Cemetery.  The family of Isabel M. Becker has entrusted the care of their loved one to the DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory of the Espanola Valley. 505-747-7477 – www.devargasfuneral.com

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