Fred Miguel Sandoval

Fred M. Sandoval Jr. passed away on Tuesday, January 31st, 2023 in Albuquerque, NM.

Fred was born February 3rd, 1923 to Fred Sandoval Sr. and Ofelia T. Sandoval near Las Cruces, NM. He is survived by five children, Dr. L. Victor Sandoval (Mary), Las Cruces, NM; Mark E. Sandoval, Bismarck, ND; Philip F. Sandoval (Martha). Billings, MT; Anita M. Brandenburg (Scott), Fargo, ND; and Dr. Jerry Q. Sandoval, Albuquerque, NM; ten grandchildren, Mark, Robert, Kelli, and Lyndsey (Victor); Brandon and Alexis (Philip); Elizabeth and Sean (Anita); Eric and Jacob (Jerry); and one of six siblings, Josephine S. Sprigg, Rio Rancho, NM.

He is predeceased by Bertha L. Sandoval, his loving spouse of 70 years, and mother of his six children; his eldest son, Michael A. Sandoval; dear daughter-in-law, Dawn Marie (Jerry); dear granddaughter, Lisa Marie (Jerry); and five siblings, Maria Louisa S. Lucero, Sylvia S. Gale, Jose B. Sandoval, Rupert M. Sandoval, and Ophelia S. Rinaldi.

At 4 ½ years of age, Fred went to live with his aunt-godmother (Mother’s sister), Anita T. Mares, in Taos, NM. He received grammar and high school education in NM schools.

Fred served 38 months in the US Army during WWII and received an honorable discharge as a disabled veteran with rank of Staff Sergeant. He held life-time memberships with the Disabled American Veterans, and with the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Fred received a BS degree in agronomy from New Mexico State University; an MS in soil science and plant nutrition from University of Idaho; and postgraduate in advanced soil chemistry and physics at Utah State University. As an undergraduate, he was elected to Alpha Zeta, honorary professional fraternity in Agriculture. As a graduate, he was elected to the Society of Sigma Xi, Idaho and Utah State chapters.

He began his professional career in 1948 and after 32 years retired as Research Soil Scientist from the USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Mandan, ND. His work took him and family to New Mexico, Idaho, North Dakota, and Montana. Fred received an appointment as Adjunct Professor of Soil Science at North Dakota State University. The Soil Conservation Society of America, in 1978, presented him with an award for “Outstanding work on salinity, reclamation, and other land use problems.” In 1979, in recognition for his research on the West-Central North Dakota Regional Environmental Impact Studies on Energy Development, he received a joint award from ND Governor A.A. Link and the Northern Plains Director, Bureau of Land Management. Fred authored or coauthored numerous professional publications and gained wide recognition for his expertise on soil and water salinity and toxic environmental problems in semi-arid regions. At retirement he was listed in the American Registry of Certified Professionals in Agronomy, Crops, and Soils. He held memberships in several societies and received awards for scientific work. After retirement from the USDA-ARS, he owned and operated a land reclamation consulting service in Montana for Canadian and American corporate and government clients in the coal mining business.

Fred enjoyed and received great satisfaction from professional work, but his greatest enjoyment was camping, hunting, and fishing in North and South Dakota, and Montana. In retirement, he felt great pleasure tending his lawns and garden, and working in his hobby “Ranchito” near Bozeman, MT. His greatest personal pleasure was taking his family on many camping trips in western Canada and western USA mountain areas. He enjoyed several trips to South America and Mexico with his beloved Bertha and his dear cousin, Fillie Garcia from Taos, NM.

Following final retirement in 1991, Fred moved with Bertha back to their home state of New Mexico, where they resided for 22 years in Rio Rancho, before moving to various retirement facilities in Albuquerque.