Margarito Torrez, 93, of Elk Point, South Dakota passed away on Sunday, May, 5, 2024 at Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls.

Margarito Torrez was born on January 25, 1931 to Teresita and George Torrez in Abo, New Mexico, a small village in the mountains east of Albuquerque. He passed away on May 5, 2024 while hospitalized in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Maggie was 93 years old. He was the third born child of eleven siblings, Vicente, Mariano, Paublita, Catalina, Jose, George Jr, Eloísa, María, Luciano and Gilberto. In addition, he has an adopted brother, Lonnie.

As a child Maggie cared for the sheep and goats belonging to Grandpa Luna. He attended school in Abo and Mountainair. At age fifteen, Maggie worked on the railroad in New Mexico and Texas for two years. When he was seventeen his family traveled back and forth from New Mexico to Colorado for three summers as seasonal workers doing field work for local farmers.

It was in Colorado where Maggie met Angelita Guzman. After four dates he asked for her hand in marriage. On December 1, 1951 they were married in Saint Mary's Catholic Church in Brush, Colorado putting down roots.

Maggie continued to work for local farmers for the next three years. Following that, he worked at McLagan's Creamery for ten years making dairy products. Upon the closing of the creamery Maggie found employment at Jack Boxer and Sons Feedlot. There he fed cattle and ran the grain elevator for sixteen years until the business closed. After that Maggie worked for Century Housing making cabinets for mobile homes. That job lasted ten years. His last employment was as custodian at Brush High School. He was there for seventeen years. Maggie claims that this was his favorite job because he liked helping the students.

Maggie and Angie raised three children, Amalia (Richarde Hayes) born in 1952, Cecilia (Raymond Berg Jr) born in 1954 and Jaime (Traci Torrez) born in 1965. Amalia lives in Denver, Colorado while Cis and Jaime live in Elk Point, South Dakota. Maggie had seven grandchildren, Leon (Maruca) and Alex Hayes, Monica (Mat Kline), Marissa, Damon, Teja and Danica Torrez. He also had eight great grandchildren, Naoli and Leon Hayes II, Arabella Larson, Phoenix and Cole Segnini, Miles Kline, Austin and Rylee Bigelow.

Maggie is pre-deceased by his wife of fifty-nine years, Angie, his parents, Teresita and George and his siblings, Vicente, Mariano, Catalina, José, Eloísa, George Jr and Gilberto along with sons-in-law Richarde and Ray. He is survived by many Torrez and Guzman family members.

When asked what he enjoyed in life, Maggie immediately responded he liked playing pool, girls, and hunting rabbits, coyotes and snakes in his younger years in New Mexico. During his life in Colorado he enjoyed playing pitch at the Tap Room in Fort Morgan and fishing. Maggie especially liked making annual Father's Day fishing trips to Vernal, Utah with his son-in-law, Ray. The fun of those trips involved other fishing buddies, no wives and plenty of beer in the cooler. Maggie liked going to "The Hill" in Colorado always chasing the big money pot. In South Dakota the lure of the sound of ka-ching at the casino called to him as well. It was one of his favorite outings.

Maggie looked forward to the company of Jaime's pet dog, Max, feeding him treats and queso to get Max to follow instructions. Max was a welcome daily side kick to take naps with.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St Mary's Catholic Church in Brush, Colorado at 10:00 am on Saturday, June 8th followed by burial at Brush Memorial Cemetery. The family is hosting a celebration of Maggie's life at the Moose Lodge on 2310 Edison St in Brush after the burial.

Memorials in Maggie's name may be sent to St Joseph's Catholic Church, 605 E. Main St, Elk Point, SD, 57025