Rudolfo Herrera Ortega

The Mass of the Resurrection for Rudolfo Ortega, 84, of Portales, will be celebrated at 9:00 AM, Sat., Oct. 10, 2020 at St. Helen Catholic Church with Fr. Francisco Carbajal officiating.  Burial will follow in the Portales Cemetery with Lolo Ortega, Robert Ortega, Shawn Carrasco, Javier Gonzales, Jr., Aaron Ortega, Lane Carrasco, Isaac Carrasco and Iram Martinez serving as pallbearers.  The Rosary will recited at 7:00 PM, Fri., Oct. 9, 2020 at the Wheeler Mortuary Chapel.

Rudolfo Ortega was born Dec 21, 1935 in Coyame, Chihuahua, Mexico to the home of Librada (Herrera) and Dolores Ortega and died at his home in Portales on Oct. 5, 2020.  As a young man, he worked on ranches in both Mexico and New Mexico until the early 1950's when he settled in the US.  He worked in the Kenna area for Stanley Good, and later did farm work in the Floyd and Bethel communities for the Chandlers and Leland Pool as well on other farms and ranches in the area.  For a period of time he worked in Friona, TX at the Xcel Meat Packing Plant.  Mr. Ortega continued to work until he was in his mid 70's.

In Coyame, Mexico he was married to Aurora Prieto in 1959.  He was a member of St. Helen Catholic Church.  For enjoyment, he liked to go to the horse races, play pool and cards, as well as dice games.  He also liked to dance.

He is survived by Aurora Ortega, his wife of 61 years; three sons, Lolo Ortega and wife, Vickie of Portales, Rudolfo Ortega, Jr. and wife, Clara of Eunice, NM and Robert Ortega and companion, Laura Gomez of Portales; six daughters and sons-in-law, Hilda and Javier Gonzales of Eunice, NM, Sylvia and Martin Rodriguez of Eunice, NM, Socorro and Martin Olivas of Levelland, TX, Aurora and Arnold Navarrete of Portales, Virginia and Kenner Carrasco of Dora and Rosemary and Carlos Castro of Plainview, TX; 20 grandchildren, Liz and Javier Gonzales, Marty and Jose Luis Rodreiguez, Ivan and Rudy Ortega, Yvette, Karina and Berenice Navarrete, Shawn, Lane and Isaac Carrasco, Aaron and Jacqui Ortega, C. J., Isaiah and Adrian Castro and Robert, Jr., Abel and Lolo III Ortega; and 12 great-grandchildren; a brother, Mario Ortega of Odessa, TX and a sister, Enedina Ortega of Coyame, Chihuahua, Mexico.  He was preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Carolina Cervantes and a grandson, Arnold Navarrete.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Rudolfo Herrera Ortega, please visit our floral store.