Seferino Michael Montano

The Rosary for Seferino Montano, 73, of Portales, will be recited at 9:00 AM, Wed., Jan. 14, 2026 at St. Helen Catholic Church.  Mass of the Resurrection will follow at 10:00 AM with Fr. Francisco Carbajal as Celebrant.  Jake Lopez, David Roddy, Alan Anderson, Henry Montano, David Briseno and Rudy Montano will serve as pallbearers.  All the staff of the LaCasa Clinics will serve as honorary pallbearers.  Seferino dedicated his life to expanding access to healthcare.  In lieu of flowers, the family invites memorial donations to LaCasa Family Health Center to be used for indigent patient services.

Seferino Michael Montano was born June 16, 1952, in Portales, to the home of Rosa (Garcia) and Juan Frederico Montano, and passed from this life on the morning of Jan. 10, 2026 at his home in Portales.  Seferino was a 1970 graduate of Portales High School where he was a distance runner on the track team.  His father died when he was 16, and in addition to school, Seferino worked to help support his mother and his siblings.  Mr. Montano was very family oriented and throughout his adult lifetime he continued to help various family members. 

It was at a Valentine’s Day dance at Eastern New Mexico University that he met Sylvia Larez.  The next fall he enrolled in classes at the university.  On Feb. 8, 1975 in Carlsbad, he and Sylvia were married.  They were married for one month short of 51 years by the time of his death.

It was through his training at the Dept. of Labor that he became the Director of H.E.L.P.  Then in 1976, he was hired as an Assistant Director at the LaCasa Family Health Clinic.  In 1981, he was promoted to be the CEO of all the Clinics.  For 45 years, Mr. Montano dedicated his life to La Casa Family Health Center and to the people of Roosevelt County and eastern New Mexico. His leadership, compassion, and unwavering commitment to providing accessible healthcare shaped the organization and touched countless lives.  Mr. Montano was more than a leader, he was a mentor, a visionary, and a champion for those most in need.  His legacy will continue to guide and inspire the mission of the organization for generations to come, as they continue to honor his work with the same passion, humility and dedication.

Seferino loved to be outdoors, and enjoyed hunting, fishing, and camping.  In general, he simply loved nature and being in God’s creation.  He also enjoyed art and traveling.  During his lifetime he had visited nearly every state as well as Canada and Puerto Rico.  His faith in God was profound in his life, and he was a dedicated member of St. Helen Catholic Church.

Besides his wife, Sylvia, he is survived by his son, Armando Montano of Portales; his daughters, Monica Montano and her life partner, Rebecca Sanchez of Albuquerque and Dorie Anderson and her husband, Cass of Portales; six grandchildren, Kayleigh Goldsborough and her husband, Gabriel, Lindsey Montano, Megan Montano, Mia Anderson, Joelle Anderson and Elvis Sanchez; and a great-granddaughter, Jovi Garcia; a brother, Rudy Montano and his wife, Judy of Portales; and two sisters, Lucia Cansino of Lubbock and Rosa Carter of Portales.  He was preceded in death by both of his parents, four brothers, Isaac, Elfigo, Philandro and Jerry Montano and two sisters, Patricia “Pat” Jaquez and Adelina Baca.

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