Rafael Mendez Ruiz de Velasco

Rafael Mendez Ruiz de Velasco, age 74 of Spearfish, died Thursday, June 6, 2024 at the Monument Health Rapid City Hospital.

Mass of Christian Burial will take place 10am Tuesday June 11, 2024 at St. Paul Catholic Church in Belle Fourche.  Interment will take place at Pine Slope Cemetery.   Funeral arrangements are with Leverington Funeral Home of the Northern Hills in Belle Fourche.  Friends may leave written condolences online at: www.LeveringtonFH.com

Rafael Mendez Ruiz de Velasco was born August 11, 1949 in Mexico.  He was the son of Mario Eduardo Mendez Martinez and Pila Ruiz de Velasco Villasenor.   Rafael grew up in Mexico City and Guadalajara Mexico.  For over 50 years he was married to Alicia Calvillo Mendoza.  For the past 12 years he has lived in Spearfish.

Rafael will be remembered for his kind heart and loving personality.  He was a hard worker.  In his younger days he owned a sales company and working as a salesman took him all over the country.  Rafael was a true gentleman and a wonderful husband, father, and grandfather.  He will be greatly missed by all his family.

Rafael is survived by his wife, Alicia of Spearfish; daughter, Dulce Mendez of Spearfish; sons, Adrian Mendez of Mexico, Oscar Mendez of Mexico, Oscar Mendez Jr. of Spearfish; grandsons, Cesar Mendez of Arizona, Erick Mendez of Spearfish; and sisters, Carmen and Lucia Mendez of Guadalajara Mexico.  He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Alberto Mendez; grandson, Alberto Mendez Jr.; 2 brothers, Carlos and Mario Mendez; and sister, Dulce Mendez.

Mass of Christian Burial

10:00 A.M. – Tuesday – June 11, 2024

St. Paul Catholic Church

Belle Fourche, South Dakota

Celebrant - Father Kevin Achbach

Music

“Holy God, We Praise Thy Name”

“O Jesus We Adore Thee”, “Song of Farewell”

“May the Choirs of Angels”

Janet Higbee, pianist Myron Volk, cantor

Pallbearers

Cesar Mendez Oscar Mendez  Erick Mendez  Jorge Calvillo    

Christian Calvillo    Daniel Lozano   Leo Rodrigez

Inurnment

3:00 P.M. – Thursday – June 13, 2024

Pine Slope Cemetery

Belle Fourche, South Dakota