Hilda Sparks

Hilda Elsie Block Sparks was born to Harold and Elsie Block in Monticello, WI, on December 2, 1922, the second of seven children, having 3 sisters and 3 brothers. In 1927, the family moved to Texas, then to the Clovis/Portales, NM area in 1929. Hilda attended the Portales schools completing her senior year in Monroe, WI, staying with her paternal grandparents, Emil and Lina Boesch. During this time however, her family moved to Ima, NM area for employment. Returning to NM, Hilda’s eyes rested on a handsome young man playing fiddle at the community dances. Hilda, one to always find a way to get what she wanted, set her sights on Rexel F. Sparks and won his heart for the next 65 years. Hilda and Rex settled on the Sparks homestead at Ima, raising five children: Donnie, Kay, Dick, Kelly and Joe. Hilda and Rex farmed wheat and raised cattle; drove a school bus for 35 years. Hilda became the Postmaster for the Ima area, handling the mail in their home. In 1963, they purchased property in SW Colorado, shipping cattle there in the summers and wintering them in NM during the winters. During Hilda’s life, she exemplified the virtuous woman in caring for her family. Her skills at quilting and crocheting benefited the whole family as she made quilts for her children and grandchildren; in her latter years, she crocheting small tokens of love for great-grandchildren, friends and neighbors. Hilda’s skills at cooking will be long remembered by those that sat at her table. Her table was a full of fresh vegetables and fruits that she and Rex raised. When age and health limited her ability to have a vegetable garden, she turned every nook and cranny into a flurry of flowers. Hilda passed away in her home on August 29, 2009 in the view of the beautiful Colorado Rockies as her favorite Bible verse was … Ps. 121.1 “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills.” Hilda was survived by her children: Donnie and El Verna Sparks, Canon City, CO; Kay Frazier, Melrose, NM; Dick and Nikki Sparks, Monte Vista, CO; Kelly and Colleen Sparks, Peoria, AZ; Joe and Becky Sparks, Ignacio, CO; 20 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren; brothers, Raymond and Shug Block, House, NM; Harold and Jean Block, Harrison, AR; sister-Sally and Bill Whitesides, Farwell, TX. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Rexel F. Sparks; her parents, Harold and Elsie Sparks; sisters, Hazel Troughber and Phyllis Patton and an infant brother, Samuel Block. Visitation will take place at 5:30 PM Tuesday, September 1, 2009 from the Chavez Funeral Home in Fort Sumner. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM, Wednesday, September 2, 2009 from the Melrose Baptist Church, Melrose, NM. Burial will follow Ima Cemetery. A reception follow the burial at the House Community Center, House, NM. A special co-memorial service will be held at 10:00 AM Saturday, September 5, 2009 at Pine River Valley Baptist Church, Ignacio, Colorado with long-time friend Jeanne Whiteman, mother-in-law of Joe Sparks. Local arrangements are under the direction of Chavez Funeral Home, 804 N. Fifth Street; Fort Sumner, New Mexico. (575) 355-2311. To place an online tribute or sign the guest book please visit www.chavezfuneralhome.com