Esteban (Steve) Valerio age 94, passed away on November 30, 2024 at Heart of the Rockies Regional Medical Center, Salida Colorado. Mr. Valerio was born to Antonia Trujillo and Roque Valerio on April 13, 1930 in Salida Colorado. Mr. Valero attended Salida Schools. After his father’s death he became the sole support for his family. As a child he worked for Laura Evans (the local Madame) doing different odd jobs to earn money for the movies.
In 1945 he started working at the Salida Movie Theater, later known as the Unique Theater, learning to be and later working as a projectionist. He worked as a projectionist till the 1980’s. He worked at Stapleton Motors and later at Climax molybdenum mine, retiring after 37 years. After retiring he worked for McDonalds. Mr. Valerio served in the United States Army during the Korean conflict. He was stationed State side. While at Fort Leonard Wood the movie “Hell and Back” filmed troops doing drills to be used in the movie. The standing family joke was Mr. Valerio was in a movie, one of several hundred soldiers. He left the service as a Corporal. Mr. Valerio married M. Dolores Garduno in 1956 at St. Joseph Church. The couple managed the Salida Theater for a few months as well as managing Drive- In theaters in Cortez, Colorado and Shiprock New Mexico. Mr. Valerio was a true Salidaian never wanting to leave Salida, the few times he did leave he returned. Mr. Valerio was a lifelong Catholic; he was a fan of the Denver Broncos, Norte Dame, and the Salida Football teams. He loved parades, the Fourth of July, the Boat Races, history, railroads and his pets. He was a devoted husband, father and grandfather. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him. Mr. Valerio was a member of the Knights of Columbus and was a Chancellor, a member of Los Amigos and served as president and a lifelong member of St. Joseph’s Church. He is survived by his daughter Luella and son Keith, his grandsons Raymond, Richard (Shaian), Joshua (Jen), grandchildren Jarren Overson, Haven, Selena Martinez, Blayne, Abinaya, Eliza, Braelyn Ortega, Eleyna, Porscha and Quede, brother-in-law Amos (Connie) Gardunio, sister-in-law Wilma Gardunio, Louise Trejo, and numerous nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, wife, son Steve, stepfather Gene Vigil, grandparents Antonio Valerio and M. Isabel (Manzanares), Antonio Trujillo and Rumaldita (Maestas), brothers Samuel Rodriquez, Dennis Valerio, George, Francisco, Frutos sisters Fiviana Gallegos, M. Teresa, Anita (Claude) Marques, Alvina (Asiscio) Jaquez, Isabel Strickland, In- laws Gilbert (Genevieve), John Roy (Isabel), Manuel, David Gardunio, Lenora Garduno, and Dora Gardunio, Eliza Gonzales, Fermina Valdez (Valentine) and Lucy Varela( Gil). Recitation of the Holy Rosary is set for 11:00 AM Saturday December 7, 2024 at St. Joseph Catholic Church. Mass will follow at 11:30 AM. Interment will follow at Fairview Cemetery. The family requests in lieu of flowers or monetary gift that donations be made to the Grainery Ministries in his name. On line condolences can be sent to the family at lewisandglenn.com. Arrangements were with Lewis and Glenn Funeral Home.
