Small Town News

SPARKS

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Hilda Elsie Block Sparks was born to Harold and Elsie Block in Montecello, WI, on December 2, 1922, the second of seven children. In 1927, the family moved to Texas, then to the Clovis/Portales, NM area in 1929.

Hilda attended the Portales schools completing her senior year in Monroe, WI, staying with her paternal grandparents, Emil and Lina Boesch. During this time however, her family moved to Ima, NM area for employment. Returning to NM, Hilda married Rexel F. Sparks.

Hilda and Rex settled on the Sparks homestead at Ima, raising five children. Hilda and Rex farmed wheat and raised cattle; drove a school bus for 35 years. Hilda became the Postmaster for the Ima area, handling the mail in their home. In 1963, they purchased property in SW Colorado, shipping cattle there in the summers and wintering them in NM during the winters.

Hilda passed away in her home on August 29, 2009 in the view of the beautiful Colorado Rockies as her favorite Bible verse was, Ps. 121.1 "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills."

Survivors include her children: Donnie and El Verna Sparks of Canon City, CO; Kay Frazier of Melrose, NM; Dick and Nikki Sparks of Monte Vista, CO; Kelly and Colleen Sparks of Peoria, AZ; Joe and Becky Sparks of Ignacio, CO; 20 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren; brothers, Raymond and Shug Block of House, NM; Harold and Jean Block of Harrison, AR and sister Sally and husband Bill Whitesides, Farwell, TX.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Rexel F. Sparks; her parents, Harold and Elsie Sparks; sisters, Hazel Troughber and Phyllis Patton and infant brother, Samuel Block.

The funeral services were held at Melrose Baptist Church on Wednesday, September 2, 2009 at 10 a.m.; with burial at the Ima Cemetery, followed by a community reception at the House Community Center, House, NM.

A special co-memorial service will be held Sept. 5, 2009, 10 a.m. at Pine River Valley Baptist Church, Ignacio, CO with long-time friend Jeanne Whiteman, mother-in-law of Joe Sparks.

Local arrangements are under the direction of Chavez Funeral Home, 804 N. Fifth Street; Fort Sumner, New Mexico. (575)355-2311.

To place an online tribute or sign the guest book please visit www.



Copyright 2009 De Baca County News, Fort Sumner, New Mexico. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from SmallTownPapers, Inc.

© 2009 De Baca County News Fort Sumner, New Mexico. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

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