Nellie Berlinda Gallegos

Nellie Berlinda Gallegos, 92, passed away peacefully on September 18th, 2024 surrounded by her family.

Nellie is survived by her children; Wilma (husband Dan), Bob (wife Betty), Patti, Elaine (husband Rick), Randy (wife Diana), Les (wife Lori), Don, Ken (wife Kelly). She is also survived by 24 grandchildren, 34 great grandchildren, 5 great great grandchildren, two brothers (Leonard and Dave Romero) and one sister (Elva Hamrick).

She was preceded in death by her husband (Demecio), son-in-law (Roy Andrean), grandson (Craig Gallegos) and granddaughter (Mandi Andrean).

Nellie was born on February 28, 1932 in Los Pinos, New Mexico.

She married Demecio Margarito Gallegos on September 17, 1949.

She lived in Silverton since 1955.

She started her career at the Grand Imperial Hotel and from there she went on to work at Romeros Restaurant.

She would come home with an apron full of tips and the best part was letting us kids count it.

From there, she would stash them in her socks.

That’s how she became famous for sock stashing.

Besides being the best waitress in town, she cared for many relatives including packing lunches for every one of them prior to going to work herself. That’s where our work ethic came from.

Our mother had charisma people envied. She had friends from afar that are still her friends today.

Part of her legacy was walking to the shrine and going to church every Sunday no matter what.

Our mother raised us on our favorite foods such as chili beans, empadanitas, enchiladas, tortillas and she could also roast a mean piñon.

Some of her kids moved to Arizona, so she decided to become what we call a snowbird (live in Silverton in the summer and Arizona in the winter) and she lived the best of both worlds and was a snowbird for 40 years.

She spent much time daily on phone calls with family and friends.

We will miss her phone calls dearly.

Silverton lost a Legacy, but she will never be forgotten.

We were so blessed to call her our mother and Queen Bee.

Our mother would always talk about how many friends and relatives she lost over the years in Silverton. Now she is reunited with all of them.

Rest in peace, our sweet mother.