Richard Mondragon

Richard, nicknamed "Butch" when his dad first laid eyes on him at the time of his birth, was born May 16, 1943, and died on Sunday, March 19, 2006, unexpectedly at home. He was the son of Richard Dick Mondragon of Fort Collins and Lily Gallegos of Raton, N.M. His Dad and Mom founded Dick's Trash Hauling in 1951 and Butch began working with his father in 1952 at the age of 17. Butch co-owned the business with his dad, Richard, and brother, Tom. Butch was happily married to Linda Maciel on Sept. 6, 1964, and the two of them shared 36 wonderful years of marriage, until the time of her unexpected death. The couple had three children, Anastasia Staci Martinez, Jeremy and Justin. He has three grandchildren, Amber, Ashland and Raymond Martinez Jr. and two great-grandchildren, Xzavior, Elijah and another great-grandchild soon to be born. His father, Richard; sister, Julie, and brother-in-law, Kenneth, of California; brother Tom and sister-in-law, Eleanor, of Fort Collins also survive him. He leaves a multitude of special friends and family that he always made time for because everyone was important to him and he made you feel that. To know Butch was to love him. Butch was truly unique and a kind and loving man. He had a special gift and spent his entire life giving to others. If he had a 12-hour day scheduled, he would add several more hours to it, just so that he could stop and talk to people. He always encouraged everyone he knew to get a personal relationship with Jesus and thus he did not fear death. He would often say, "I am ready, are you? And if you are not ready, what do you need to do?" He was a person you could always rely on, trust and talk to. Butch was truly an angel, sent from heaven and now called home. His interests were having lunch with friends and family, gambling, going to the movies and he loved buying and reselling everything. Butch has found the peace he was searching for to be reunited with his beloved wife, Linda, and his cherished mother, Lily. He will be forever missed-WE LOVE YOU. Visitation is from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. today and 9 to 11 a.m. Friday at Bohlender Funeral Chapel. Rosary and Mass of Christian Burial is at 2 p.m. Friday, Holy Family Catholic Church. Interment at Grandview Cemetery.