Felipe Almanza was born July 20, 1929, in Nueva Rosita, Coahuila, Mexico, to Pedro Almanza and Teresa Zavala.  He was raised in Nueva Rosita and as a young man worked as a coal miner. On Jan. 3, 1961, he married Maria Patlan at Allende, Coahuila. After married they lived in Saltillo, Coahuila, and Felipe worked as a building contractor with Zincamex Refining Company. Felipe always had the dream of being a farmer and when he left Zincamex he bought a farm in Rio Bravo, Tamaulipas, and fulfilled his dream.  In 1986, Felipe moved to Faribault and worked at Ryt-Way in Northfield until retiring in 1997. Over the next several years he split his time between the Faribault/Northfield area and Weslaco, TX.

Survivors include his wife of 51 years, Maria; 3 children: Pedro and wife Irma Martinez of Weslaco, Texas, Felipe and wife Sara Almanza of Faribault, Maria Patti and husband Rafael Estrada of Northfield; 5 grandchildren; one brother, Francisco Almanza of Nueva Rosita; one sister, Jacinta Lira Almanza of San Antonio, TX; and many other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by a son in infancy, 2 grandchildren, his parents, his brother Alberto, and his sisters Guadalupe Llamas Almanza and Rosa Maria Garcia Almanza.

After suffering with cancer, Felipe passed away Wednesday morning, June 27, 2012, at Pleasant Manor Care Center in Faribault, at the age of 82.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 7 p.m. Monday, July 2, 2012, at the Church of St. Dominic in Northfield with Fr. Dennis Evenson and Fr. Erik Lundgren officiating.  Visitation will being at 6 p.m. at the church.
Arrangements are with Benson & Langehough Funeral Home.