Albert Aldasoro

By Sun Advocate

TELLURIDE/MONTROSE, Colo. – Albert John Aldasoro passed away at Fruita Health West on Aug. 26, 2008 at the age of 75.
A long time resident of Telluride and Montrose, Colo., he was born in Grand Junction, Colo., on July 3, 1933 to Joaquin and Cristina Basterrechea Aldasoro.
He attended elementary school in Price and high school at the Abbey in Canon City, Colo. He attended college in Fort Collins as an Aggie until he was drafted into the Army, where he served in Japan. 
He was married in Telluride, Colo., to Yula Mae Anderson on June 21, 1958.  They were married for 36 years and raised three girls, Angela and Pamela (twins) and Cristine. 
Albert ran a ranching operation that took him and his family from Montrose, Colo., where they kept the sheep in the winter, to Telluride, Colo., where they spent the summer.
The Aldasoro ranch was purchased by his father in the 1920s. While a large portion of the ranch was developed into the Aldasoro Ranch subdivision in the 1990s, the family retains the core of the original sheep ranch as their own.
Albert was a lover of the outdoors and valued time spent with family and friends.
Albert was a collector and a gambling enthusiast. He was a character who was recognized throughout the San Juans and an active member in the Elks Club and woolgrowers association.
He is survived by Angela Mary Petersen, Pamela Mary and Scott Bennett, Cristine Aldasoro and Mathew Mitchell and his six grandchildren, Ashley Cristine Story, Luke Albert Story, Shanna Mae Petersen, Molly Carmen Mitchell, Ian Jack Mitchell and Chandler Drew Bennett, all of Telluride, Colo. He is also survived by his close friend, Pat Tooker; as well as his cousins, Carmen Aguirre, Frank Aldasoro, Jeannie DePriest and Yvonne Mazzaco; and several others in the U.S. and Spain; and his sister, Mary Louise Leonard of Boise, Idaho. His former wife, Yula Mae Anderson, resides in Montrose. Arrangements are under the direction of Crippin Funeral Home, Montrose, Colo.
His family would like to extend an invitation to celebrate Albert’s life on Tuesday, Sept. 2, at Saint Mary’s Catholic Church at 10 a.m., followed by a luncheon at the Holiday Inn Express in Montrose, Colo. Albert’s final resting place will be in Price with the rest of the Aldasoro family.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in memory of Albert to the woolgrowers association in care of Christine Etchart at 58751 Loesch Road Montrose, CO 81401.