Arthur Lawrence Rivale (69) passed away on October 30, 2017 in La Junta, Colorado. He was the husband of Ileen (Findley) Rivale. They shared 43 loving years of marriage together.

Art was born in Kim, Colorado to Sosten and Virginia Rivale. He graduated from Pritchett High School in 1966 and got a B.S. in Biology from Adams State College. As a young man, he rodeoed, rode saddle broncs, and trained race horses for Ray Payton with his brothers. A cowboy at heart, his lifelong love of horses and the Colorado Mountains led him to pursue cattle ranching, first in the Wet Mountain area of Westcliffe, then in the northern San Luis Valley. Later in life, although always ranching, he was also employed by the State of Colorado Division of Water Resources as Water Commissioner.

Art was a doting grandfather. He was an avid fan of the game of basketball and enjoyed coaching pee wee, junior high and high school basketball at Mountain Valley School in Saguache, Colorado. His other passion in life was rodeoing with and training horses for his daughters. Living in the beautiful mountains of Southern Colorado, he enjoyed hunting elk and deer, especially with his family and friends.

He was an active, faithful member of the St. Agnes Catholic Church in Saguache, Colorado. He is survived by his wife, Ileen, daughters Stephanie Rivale and Stacy (Rivale) Regan, son-in-law Josh Regan, grandchildren Sean and Isabella Regan, mother Virginia (Maes) Rivale, siblings Ernie Rivale, J.C. Rivale, Belinda (Rivale) Trujillo, Vickie (Rivale) Menhennett, Connie (Rivale) Mestas, Richard Rivale, Bill Rivale, and Ron Rivale.

He is preceded in death by his daughter Shanon Rivale, his father Sosten Rivale, and his grandparents Cipriano Maes, Higinia (Gonzalez) Maes, Lucita (Apodaca) Rivale, and Jose? Domotilio Rivale.

Rosary services are planned for Friday, November 3rd at 7 PM at St Agnes Church 505 Gunnison St., Saguache, CO. Funeral services are Saturday, November 4th at 2 PM at Mountain Valley School Gym, 403 Pitkin Ave., Saguache, CO with Graveside services at Chicago Cemetery immediately following the funeral. There will be a reception at Saguache Community Center 525 7th St., Saguache CO after the graveside services.