Margaret Flaugh

Margaret Flaugh, born May 9, 1937, in Des Moines, Iowa, to Beulah and Leonard Sherman, passed away peacefully on November 3, 2025, surrounded by the love of her family. She will be greatly missed.

Margaret met the love of her life, Harry Flaugh, in elementary school, and the two began dating in high school. They married in 1956 while attending Iowa State University and moved to Los Alamos, NM in 1961. They shared nearly 67 wonderful years together until Harry’s passing in 2024. Their love for each other was the foundation of a rich life filled with adventure, family, and lifelong friendships.

A devoted mother and grandmother, she loved nothing more than spending time with her family. Their home was the center for the holidays and as many as 25 loved ones were at her tables for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners. Mother’s Day lunches were also big family reunions, usually at the family favorite, Rancho de Chimayo. She dearly loved cheering on her grandchildren and great-grandchildren in their sports, performances and adventures. She was endlessly proud of each of them.

Sociable and full of spirit, she and Harry were part of a close-knit friend group affectionately known as the “Rat Pack,” who played a major role in expanding Pajarito Ski Area from a modest handful of slopes in the 1960’s to the 40+ runs enjoyed today. This group, along with many others, dedicated many thousands of hours to a labor of love that we all continue to enjoy. With this group and other friends, they took memorable ski trips to Utah, Colorado and Europe and camping trips across Colorado. Together they hosted and enjoyed many wonderful parties and special occasions.

She was adventurous at heart. She enjoyed skiing, hiking, travelling and connecting with people wherever she went. With four kids in tow, the family embarked on road trips across the country, creating cherished memories that will live on in happy memories. Later, she and Harry explored the world together, traveling to many countries in Europe, Egypt, Kenya, Bali, China, Antarctica, Australia, New Zealand, Chile and Argentina. For over 20 years, they especially enjoyed annual fishing trips to Canada with different groups of family and friends every year. Margaret enjoyed bowling on a league with good friends for many years, and loved doing puzzles, watching sports and having lunch with friends.

Professionally, she began as a telephone operator, then worked as a secretary for Los Alamos Public Schools for seven years. In 1980, she joined Los Alamos National Laboratory, later serving as the Group Secretary of ESS-9 beginning in 1986. She earned a LANL Distinguished Performance Award in 1992 and retired with Harry in 1993. She cherished her colleagues and held fond memories of touring the area with international visitors, introducing them to the Atomic City and the Land of Enchantment.

A natural hostess, she was known for her après ski popcorn and her annual New Year’s Day Open House, filling her home with family and friends, laughter and love, food and fun. She brought this same warmth to her workplaces, known as the “pizza party hostess” and as the organizer of events and dinners for the group and visiting scientists.

She is remembered for her kindness, generosity, thoughtfulness, strength, and deep compassion. She was cared for by her loving family in her later years, especially by her daughters, Tracy and Phyllis, her grandson, Aidan, and by her wonderful physical therapist, Kelly Manginot. Thank you all for your care and love.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Harry; her parents; and her sister, Lois Bowyer. She is survived by her four children: Darwin (Lisa) Flaugh of Pagosa Springs, CO; Phyllis (Brian) Foley of Los Alamos, NM; Clay (Tangee) Flaugh of Huntsville, AL; and Tracy Brooks (Tim) of Albuquerque, NM; 10 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren; her sister, Laura Dargitz of Omaha, NE; and many other cherished family members and friends, including her best friend since kindergarten, Sally Smith.

Her legacy of love, adventure, community, and family togetherness will live on through all who were blessed to know her.

A Celebration of Margaret’s Life will be held on March 28, 2026, at the Betty Ehart Center in Los Alamos, NM. Her cremains will be buried in her family’s burial plot in Iowa in the Spring. Memories and Messages for the family may be left on the DeVargas Funeral Home website, https://www.devargasfuneral.com/obituaries.

The family of Margaret Flaugh has entrusted the care of their loved one to DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory of tbe beautiful Espanola Valley.  505-747-7477