Cleda Marie VanDenBerg

Cleda Marie VanDenBerg obituary, Chandler, AZ

Cleda Marie VanDenBerg

Cleda VanDenBerg Obituary

Obituary published on Legacy.com by Wyman Cremation & Burial Chapel on Mar. 5, 2026.
Cleda Marie VanDenBerg (née Gallegos), born November 19, 1939, in Pagosa Springs, Colorado, passed February 27, 2026, in Chandler, Arizona, in the comfort of her home surrounded by family.

Born in the mountain town she would always carry in her heart, Cleda grew up in Pagosa Springs where she was crowned prom queen at Pagosa Springs High School and served as a cheerleader from her freshman through junior years. In her senior year, she chose a different path, trading her cheer uniform for an apron to work as a "soda jerk" at the local drug store. It was an early glimpse of the independence and determination that would mark her life.

Cleda was formerly married to Ted VanDenBerg, and together they welcomed one son, Gary, who remained the center of her world. Later, as a grandmother, she carried deep pride and love for Jackson and Henley VanDenBerg.

She built a career in administration and bookkeeping, first recruited to work for San Juan Lumber and later serving in various office administration roles throughout her professional life. She retired from Data West Corporation in the early 2000s, known for her diligence and steady commitment.

She was a woman of quiet strength. Compassionate, fiercely independent, private yet deeply loving. Her faith was important to her, and she was a member of St. Columba Catholic Parish. She found joy in collecting teapots, reading, watching butterflies drift through the air, and reminiscing about Treasure Falls at the base of Wolf Creek Pass - a place that remained etched in her heart long after she left the mountains.

She is survived by her son, Gary VanDenBerg; daughter-in-law, Courtney VanDenBerg; grandson, Jackson VanDenBerg; and granddaughter, Henley VanDenBerg; her sister, Marianne Evans (née Gallegos); sister-in-law, Pauline Gallegos; and several nieces and nephews, including Cherise Mutchler (née Evans) and Michael (Leonard) Powell, many of whom lovingly knew her as "Aunt Kibbie."

She was preceded in death by her mother, Della Gallegos (née Quintana); father, Felix Gallegos; brother, Fred Gallegos; sister, Virginia "Ginger" Powell (née Gallegos); brother-in-law, Donald Evans; and niece, Lesha Powell.

Her ashes will be laid to rest at Greenmount Cemetery in Durango, Colorado, returning her to the mountains she always carried with her.

Funeral services will be held in Colorado this summer, with date and details to be announced.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

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