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Kim Lessentine-71, passed away on April 28, 2024, at Gerald Champion Regional Medical Center in Alamogordo, NM. Kim was born June 25, 1952, in Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho, Kootenai County, to Richard W. and Ramona M. (Simanton) June.
Her lineage was ranchers and farmers from Rose Bud County and Phillips County, Montana. She was taught the Code of the West as a small child; it was just how people were raised. In 1960, Kim’s parents left Kalispell, MT. Her father took a job transfer with the U.S. Forest Service to the Lincoln National Forest in Alamogordo, NM.
Kim’s parents taught their 3 daughters’ survival and made sure the girls could handle firearms, camp, hunt, fish, raise animals, and garden. Most importantly, they told their girls, “If you have a problem with someone, put it out in the open, clear it up, and get over it. Keep Jesus by your side, and always be kind to the elderly.”
Kim graduated from Alamogordo High School in 1970. On a chance encounter, she met a shy, intelligent man named Richard Lessentine. Within 20 minutes she knew this man was heaven sent! They were married in 1971 and stayed devoted to each other for 48 years until her beloved Rick passed away September 9, 2019. Kim loved being a mom to her children Autumn and Saben. She was very supportive of them and followed her kids through school activities, hunting trips, 4-H & FFA, team ropings, and the military. Kim was a past Organizational Leader for the Tularosa 4-H Club. She felt 4-H and FFA were two of the best educational programs for our youth.
Rick and Kim raised Angus x cattle in the Lincoln National Forest for 35 years. They believed the survival of the United States depended on a superior military and powerful agriculture.
Kim was blessed with 5 grandchildren and one great granddaughter. She worked hard to show them how much they were loved although ranching consumed most of her time. “Nana tried her best, but good horses don’t last forever.”
Kim was a past member of Otero County Cattleman’s Association, Lincoln National Forest Allotment Owners Association, and New Mexico Cattlegrowers’ Association. She was a current member of the National WWII Museum, NRA, Otero County Farm Bureau, and Daughters of the American Revolution, Tucson Chapter. Kim had blood grandfathers who served in the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the Civil War Union, and WWI (Silver Star).
Kim was preceded in death by her husband Richard, her parents, her sister Stephanie, a special cat, many wonderful dogs, and some darn good horses. Kim is survived by her daughter Autumn (Brad) Henson of Tucson, AZ; son Saben Lessentine and Dawn Van Arnam of Tularosa, NM; grandchildren Garrett (Kayla) Hacker of Capitan, NM; Audra Hacker (Isaiah) of Tularosa, NM; Sierra, Savannah, and Sydney Lessentine of Alamogordo, NM; her sister Kathy Bush of Elephant Butte, NM; niece Aubrae Furphy of Elephant Butte, NM; nephew Joshua Sampson of Wasilla, AK; and sister-in-law Sylvia Lessentine of Dayton, OH.
A sincere thank you goes to those very special people who made an imprint on Rick and Kim’s lives: their beloved children and grandchildren, the USAF 20th SOS Green Hornets, and the NMSU Range Improvement Task Force.
“Now I am free to go find my cherished Rick, the only man I was ever truly in love with.”
The Memorial Service will be conducted at 9:00 am on Saturday, June 1, 2024, at Scenic Chapel, Alamogordo, NM, for Richard P. and Kim Lessentine. A private burial service will be at the Monte Vista Cemetery
Should friends desire, contributions may be made to the Children’s Cancer Fund of New Mexico at http://www.ccfnm.org/, Wounded Warrior Project at https://support.woundedwarriorproject.org/donate, or the charity of their choice.
Condolences may be sent to: Saben Lessentine, 21 Moon Lane, Tularosa, NM 88352, and Autumn Henson can be contacted at 575-430-0149 or at https://www.facebook.com/autumn.lessentine,
The Lessentine family has entrusted their loved one to the care of Scenic Chapel to direct the services.
