Wanda Aliene Waldorf

Wanda Aliene Waldorf was born October 29, 1929 in Hutchison, KS the daughter of David Franklin and Minnie Ester (Oyster) Beltz. She passed away on June 15, 2019 at the Valley Inn at the age of 89.
Aliene moved to the Cortez area with her husband Warren Waldorf in 1947. They lived in Cortez for a time while Warren was employed with Texaco, Aliene worked as an LPN at the old Johnson Hospital (near the present Turquoise Motel.) In 1948 she gave birth to their first child Kathleen. Beverly was soon to follow in 1950 and their first and only Son Daniel 18 months later. In the mid 1950’s they moved to the Arriola area and Tamara was born 1959. Aliene worked many different jobs over the years including waitressing at Herndon’s Dinner, Ute Coffee Shop, the Hotel Cortez and the Molly Gibson. In the 60’s while waitressing during the day, at night she worked at Southwest Memorial Hospital in the Nursing home and at Ute Communications as a radio operator, keeping in touch with the numerous oil field workers of the day. She also worked for Raymond and Vi Taylor at Taylor’s AG Market in the meat department, learning how to cut and process meat from Larry Chandler the butcher, a skill which would come in very handy after hunting season.
Aliene enjoyed camping, fishing and jeeping. In the 60’s she and Warren and several others formed the Four Corners Jeep Club and remained avid outdoor explores, continuing with The Good Sam Club later on. In 1969 Aliene and Warren sold their Arriola home and moved back into town, where she worked at Kent’s Rexall Drug and JC Penny. She left JC Penny in the mid 70’s to return to her love of caring for people and was employed at Cortez Medical as a receptionist. In the early 80’s Aliene began employment with Montezuma County in the WIC department. She loved the children and enjoyed helping new moms with nutrition and proper care for the infants and young children. She worked in the WIC program until retiring in 1994. Not much would slow her down as she continued as an elder care provider for the County and Hospice until 2006, when dementia forced her to give up caring for others that she so loved.
Aliene was active in community support programs for Veterans and belonged to the VFW and American Legion as well as volunteering with the American Cancer Society. She was a member of the Country Girls and the Lewis Arriola Grange, enjoyed group quilting and baking. She always had a project going whether it was ceramics, crocheting, sewing or gardening. She continued to crochet right up until the dementia took its toll. Aliene was a people person; didn’t know a stranger and her loving and generous nature will be forever remembered and missed.
Surviving Aliene are her daughters, Beverly Carter of Cortez, CO, and Tammy Lindsay (Grant) of Cortez, CO; her sister, Cleona Adams of OK; seven grandchildren, 29 great grandchildren, and two great great grandchildren. Aliene was preceded in death by her parents; her spouse, Warren Samuel Waldorf; her daughter, Kathy Johnson; her son, Daniel Waldorf; her grandson, SFC Will D. Lindsay; her sisters, Rhoda Darnell, Elzora Cline, Lola Allgaier and Lorretta Beltz; and her brother, David Beltz.
A private memorial service will be held in late August.
Memorial contributions can be made to the Will Lindsay Memorial Fund, First National Bank, 2258 E Main St, Cortez, CO 81321.