Deaths

• Lesina Begay
• Randall Delgarito
• Marie Slim
• Nellie Kirk
• Cortney Smith

Lesina Begay

CHINLE — Funeral service for Lesina Begay, 93, will be 10 a.m. Saturday, March 31, at Many Farms Baptist Church. Pastor Josh Austin will officiate.

Visitation will be one hour before services.

Begay died March 27 in Chinle. She was born Nov. 15, 1913 in Many Farms into the Born of Red Running Into Water People Clan and for One Who Walks Around You People Clan.

Begay was a rug weaver, farmer, rancher and a foster grandparent.

Survivors include sons, Willie Tom Begay and Benjamin Begay, both of Many Farms, and John Tom Begay of San Carlos, Ariz.; daughters, Bernice Begay and Rose Tahe, both of Many Farms, Natalie Small of Glendora, Calif. and Elsie Howard of Redmond, Ore.; sister, Glehasbah Clah of Many Farms; 22 grandchildren; and 16 great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by husband Hosteen Owl Begay and son Melvin Tom Begay.

Pallbearers will be Monty Klah, Arlin Ben, Lemanuel James, Cornelious Billy, Herschell Billy and Faron Logan.

The family will receive family and friends at the Many Farms Church of Christ.

Silver Creek Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Randall Delgarito

THOREAU — Funeral services for Randall C. Delgarito, 37, will be 10 a.m. Saturday, March 31, at the First Baptist Church in Thoreau. Pastors Tulley Lee and Glenn Marshall will officiate. Burial will be at the Thoreau Cemetery.

Visitation will be today at Cope Memorial between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Delgarito died March 24 in Gallup. He was born June 1, 1969 in Gallup into the Towering House People Clan and for the Sleeping Rock People Clan.

He attended grammar school in Salt Lake City, Big Sky High School in Missoula, Mont. and Salish Kootenea College in Pablo, Mont. His employment included Wal-mart, Giant Travel Center, Red Rock Animal Hospital, Eldorado Restaurant and Baskin Robins. His hobbies included hunting, fishing, horseback riding, running, outdoor activities, rodeos, watching PBR, wrestling, listening to music and drawing.

Survivors include his wife, Arlene Delgarito of Gallup; son, Wauseka Becenti of Thoreau; daughters, Adrianna L. Delgarito of Gallup, Michelle Saunders of Continental Divide, and Kirsten Watchman of Ganado; mother, Delcita C. Yazzie of Thoreau; brothers, Ranndy C. Delgarito, Jason C. Yazzie and Julian J. Yazzie, all of Thoreau; sisters, Rhonda C. Delgarito and Lorinda A. Yazzie, both of Thoreau; grandfather, Kenneth Chavez Sr. of Thoreau.

He was preceded in death by grandparents, Johnny Delgarito amd Christine Martinez; father, Ronald Delgarito; sister, Lori A. Yazzie.

Pallbearers will be Ranndy C. Delgarito, Wacey A. Delgarito, Lawrence M. Delgarito, Jason C. Yazzie, Julian J. Yazzie and Shawn Martinez.

The family will receive relatives and friends at the Thoreau Chapter House after the services.

Cope Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Marie Slim

CROWNPOINT — Funeral services for Marie H. Slim, 96, will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 31, at the Rehoboth Christian Reformed Church. Rev. Gordon Stuit will officiate. Burial will be in Rehoboth.

Visitation will be today between 3 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. at Rollie Mortuary.

Slim died March 27, in Gallup. She was born Nov. 28, 1910 in Crownpoint into the Towering House People Clan and for the Over Hanging Rock People Clan.

Slim was a lifelong resident of Crownpoint. She was employed as a foster grandparent with the Navajo Tribe. She enjoyed weaving, ranching, and traveling. She was also a life-long member of the Christian Reformed Church.

Survivors include sons, Edison Harlan Sr. of Crownpoint, Raymond Slim of Sanostee and Harold Slim of Thoreau; daughters, Emma Benallie of Crownpoint and Louise Lee of Navajo; 26 grandchildren; 53 great grandchildren; and 2 great-great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by parents Bilnigizbaa' and Jose Antonio; brothers, Alford Becenti and Junior Antonio; sisters, Helen Cody, Nora Slim and Cecelia A. Largo; son, Neison Harlan; daughter, Irene Harlan.

Pallbearers will be David Lee Jr., Brandon Benallie, Roderick Harlan, Nicholas Slim, Edison Harlan Jr. and Donovan Becenti.

The family will receive relatives and friends at Rehoboth Fellowship Hall in Rehoboth after services.

Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Nellie Kirk

SHIPROCK — Funeral services for Nellie Kathleen Kirk, 87, will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 31, at the Desert View Funeral Home in Shiprock. Burial will follow at the Shiprock Community Cemetery.

Visitation will be this evening from 5 to 6 p.m. at Desert View Funeral Home Chapel in Shiprock.

Kirk was born Feb. 27, 1920 on the Navajo reservation into the Start of the Red Streak People Clan and for the Black Streak Wood People Clan.

Kirk attended Ganado Mission High School, Arizona State University, School of Social Work in Flagstaff and the University of Oklahoma. Her employment included being a social service representative and a teacher for the BIA, senior child welfare worker for the N.M. Dept. of Public Welfare, as the first Navajo social worker, and a teacher before retiring. She received five awards in honor of her work, from Indian Health Services, United States Department of Interior, the Wingate High School Board of Education, Northern Navajo Medical Center, and the Navajo Area School Board Association.

Survivors include her sons, Leon Leuppe, Virgil Kirk Jr.; siblings, Irene Leuppe Knudson Patterson and William Leuppe.

Kirk is preceded in death by her husband, Virgil Kirk Sr.; sisters, Katherine Dixon Deal and Margaret Leuppe Shorty; brothers, Frank Leuppe and Charles Leuppe.

Cortney Smith

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — Services and viewing for Cortney Edward Smith, 53, will begin at noon Saturday, March 31, at Norvell Owens Mortuary in Flagstaff.

Smith died March 27, 2007. He was born in Olean, NY.

Smith taught in the public school system for 23 years. He enjoyed teaching people to use the computer and co-founded an Internet access company in Gallup. He enjoyed wood work, electronics, hiking, reading and being with family.

Survivors include his wife, Tracy Smith; son, Ben Smith of San Diego; daughters, Amanda Compton of Champaign, Ill. and Alichar Smith of Mesa, Ariz.; sister, Marcia Smith of Mesa.