Michael Steven Baca 1928-2025 Michael S. Baca was born on

Michael Steven Baca 1928-2025 Michael S. Baca was born on Dec. 26, 1928, in Albuquerque's South Valley. He was the 10th of 13 children born to Refugio and Filomena (Jojola) Baca and he was known to his family as Mickey. The family farm in Albuquerque's Five Points neighborhood, where Mike grew up was a bustling place, where everyone worked together to put homegrown food on their table. This value is one Mike held throughout his life, later moving with his own family to Los Chavez in Valencia County in order to continue to live this tradition on a daily basis. During his early years, war and economic instability were very real threats affecting everyone. He was born a year before the start of the Great Depression and grew up during World War II. Times were hard for a large family, but the Bacas endured, sending four older brothers to serve during WWII. Always the entrepreneur, Mike delivered the newspaper, on horseback, during the war as a way to make a little money and recalled treating himself to a hamburger at the Red Ball Cafe in Barelas on payday. Also, during the war, in another effort to help the family, he and his older brother, Paul, would sell produce grown on their family farm out of a coaster wagon to neighbors and friends. In high school, he worked at the Santa Fe Railroad as a machinist's apprentice and Mike cherished those many months working alongside his father, the journeyman machinist. Mike graduated from Albuquerque High School in 1947 and went on to attend New Mexico College of A&M, now New Mexico State University. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in agronomy and participated in Air Force ROTC. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1952-54 and, upon his honorable discharge, returned to further his education at NMSU. He later worked for the Farmers Home Administration in Valencia County. Mike was a proud Aggie and, in his elder years, attended many live basketball games in Las Cruces and never missed a televised game when the Aggies were playing. After the war, the elder veteran brothers started a neighborhood grocery store in Five Points, which eventually grew into the Bueno Foods Company. With Air Force experience as a supply officer, Mike lent his skills, abilities and incredible salesmanship to helping the fledgling company grow. He traveled throughout New Mexico and Southern Colorado as Bueno's first sales manager. He was a determined pioneer who battled overt racism in his efforts to make New Mexican foods available in every grocery store in our region, items now available nationwide. He later managed his own small fleet of trucks delivering Bueno Foods products as an independent distributor. The pride and joy of Mike's life was his farm in Los Chavez. Over the years, Mike bought and sold multiple properties, improving the land and growing crops along the way. He grew alfalfa and other field crops, row crops like corn and beans and especially chile. During his peak farming years, Mike had a sufficiently large operation that he would contract with his brothers at Bueno to raise green chile and jalape[{c5}{88}]os for production at the Albuquerque plant. Mike was a lifelong learner with many interests and skills. He was a grape grower, wine maker and meat cutter, processing much of the food for his family. He loved history and enjoyed traveling, exploring New Mexico and other destinations. Mike was preceded in death by his parents as well as 11 of his 13 siblings. He is survived by his loving wife of 67 years, Leonor; their daughter, Claire Trujillo and husband, Frank, and their children, Joshua Baca and Jessica Williams (husband, Tommy, children Cole and Adelaida); their son, Raymond Baca, and his children, Alicia Baca (husband, Javier Gallegos), Michael Baca, and Luis Baca; and their son, James Baca and wife, Cecilia, and their daughter, Clorae Baca. He is also survived by his sister, Betty Baca, of Albuquerque, as well as many nieces and nephews. A memorial service for Mike will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 16, at Our Lady of Guadalupe Mission Church in Los Chavez. Visitation will take place from 9:30-10:30 a.m., followed by a Rosary and Funeral Mass. For more details, please see the website for Noblin Funeral Home at noblin.com.