MONTE VISTA— Longtime Valley resident, Jessie Marie Reinhardt, 87, passed away on March 24, 2019. She was born on Nov. 7, 1931, in Lakin, Kan., to Willis and Merna Hodson Landes shortly before the dust bowl and depression; her parents then made the hard decision when Jessie was a little girl to relocate to the San Luis Valley.
Jessie graduated from Monte Vista High School in 1949 and was the Salutatorian of her class. She married Royce Reinhardt on June 6, 1954, at the Bowen Methodist Church near Monte Vista.
Royce and Jessie began farming in the Bowen Community soon thereafter, later moving to the Carmel District where they raised five children and farmed for over 40 years.
Jessie was a lifelong member of the Bowen Church and was very active in all of the ministries the church provided. She assisted with Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, Methodist Youth Fellowship, was a member of the United Methodist Women, and served many years as financial secretary at the church. She and Royce enjoyed bowling, golfing, and travel, especially in later years, including a trip to Europe, several cruises, and many memorable winter weeks spent in Mazatlan, Mexico. Jessie was always learning and loved to educate herself or someone else as opportunities presented themselves.
She loved numbers and took a lot of pride in being a bookkeeper; she would balance her numbers down to the penny. She spent many years making sure the numbers worked for Winco Gas Company in Alamosa.
She is survived by her husband Royce Reinhardt; her children, Schonie (Willard) Nielsen, Rhonda (Mike) Entz, Ronald (Mary) Reinhardt, Sonya (Galen) Smith, and Kent (Vivian) Reinhardt; her grandchildren, Seth (Angie) Nielsen, Kristin Nielsen, Adam Nielsen, Brynna (Aaron) Jones, Vicki (Ryan) Johnson, Matthew (Shea) Reinhardt, Marci (Jeff) Moore, Sarah (Kasey) Cox, Joshua (Jessie) Smith, Chantal (Carl) Swanson and Ryan Reinhardt; 12 great grandchildren and numerous extended family members.
Jessie was preceded in death by her parents; her grandchildren, Brooke Nicole Entz and Kristopher Aaron Entz and her brothers, Ronald Landes and Duane Landes.
A funeral service was held on Monday, April 1, 2019, at the Bowen Methodist Church. Interment followed services in the Monte Vista Cemetery. Contributions are suggested to the Beaver Creek Youth Camp and may be made in care of the funeral home office. To express condolences, please visit www.rogersfunerals.com
Rogers Family Mortuary in Monte Vista is in care of the arrangements.
