Thelma Campos, a long-time resident of South Fork, passed away on May 21, 2026.
She was born in Cerro, New Mexico to Manuel Archuleta and Emelina (Garcia) Archuleta.
After the great depression, her family sold their New Mexico farm and relocated to the Del Norte, Colorado area in 1945. She attended school in Del Norte and graduated from high school in 1957.
She married Joe Campos and moved to South Fork in 1961, making South Fork her permanent home.
Thelma began her career in the late 1960s as a preschool teacher with the Del Norte Head Start. Along several other employees, she helped initiate the newly launched Head Start program by first conducting a comprehensive community assessment and securing funding through the federal Head Start grant application process. Together, they aligned operations with the Office of Head Start Performance Standards, which mandate comprehensive education, health, and family engagement services. While working at Head Start, she attended Adams State University and earned her Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education. She retired after a 40-year teaching career.
She served in several Catholic societies. She was actively involved with the Sociedad de Beneficiarios Independientes (SBI), where she served as president. She was also a member and president of the Sociedad de la Sagrada Familia prior to its dissolution in 2019. Additionally, she was a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Auxiliary, where she served as president from July 2005 to June 2006.
Thelma was a wonderful cook; she was especially known for her green chile. She had many interests, including embroidery, sewing, reading, journaling, crossword and jigsaw puzzles, and much more. But her love for the outdoors truly defined her. She loved to fish and hunt, and she took anyone who was willing to go with her to a creek, a lake, or into the mountains. She was always the teacher, from showing us how to put worms on a fishing hook to shooting grouse.
She is survived by 2 sisters, Carmalita Aguilar (Joe Aguilar) and Elvira Rivera (Charlie Rivera) and one brother, Lawrence Archuleta (Valerie Archuleta). Sisters-in-law MaryAnn Archuleta, Barbara Archuleta and Viola Archuleta. Numerous Nephews, Nieces and Cousins. She also leaves behind her devoted friends Lorrie and Brandee Medina and their families.
She is preceded in death by her Husband, Joe Campos, her parents, Manual and Emelina Archuleta. Her siblings, Eleanor (Archuleta) Campos, Dell, Valentina, Jimmy, Aladino, Louie and Manuel Archuleta. And many other cherished family members and friends.
Thelma will be deeply missed; there was no one like her. She will be remembered for her hospitality, selflessness, gentleness, kind and loving heart. She left us great memories that will be fun to relive, full of laughter and tears.
The family thanks everyone for their help, support and prayers during this time. Also, we are very grateful to all who were able to join us in the celebration of her life.
