Abel Pedroza

Abel Pedroza

Abel Muņos Pedroza, 85, of Mountain Home, died Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2007, at a local hospital.

A viewing was held Dec. 16 at Rost Funeral Home, McMurtrey Chapel. Mass was held Monday, Dec. 17, at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church, with burial to follow at Mountain View Cemetery. Arrangements were under the direction of Rost Funeral Home, McMurtrey Chapel.

Abel was born on Aug. 4, 1922, in Coatepec-Harinas, Mexico, to Ignacia and Vicente Pedroza, being the second oldest of eight children.

He worked as a police officer for seven years at the Mexico City airport. He also served in the Mexican Military for ten years.

In 1944 he married Anna Beltran in Mexico, with whom he had 12 children.

During the 1960s he participated in the Bracero Program, which brought him to Idaho on a working visa as a farm worker during the agricultural harvest season. He later continued to return to Idaho undocumented and as the years passed on his children also followed his steps to Idaho. In the late 1970s he and his children migrated to Idaho permanently, where they were able to become residents of the United States in 1986.

In the 1990s after separating from his wife, he had two more children with his new companion, whom he later separated from as well.

"He was a hard worker and always looked out for his family," his family said. He enjoyed playing cards, spending time with his family and gambling in Jackpot, Nev.

"He is an example for his family and lived life to the fullest," his family said.

Abel is survived by: his wife, Anna Pedroza of Glenns Ferry; seven sons and eight daughters of Idaho, Colorado, and Florida, 107 grandchildren and 76 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by three brothers, one sister, and one son.