Higinio Castañeda Molina

Higinio Castañeda Molina, 87, a resident of Las Cruces, NM passed away peacefully in the early hours on Saturday, August 30, 2025. Higinio also known by “H.C.,” “Gene” and “Tito” was born February 20, 1938 in Deming, NM to Higinio Torres Molina and Soledad Castañeda.

Higino was a graduate of Deming High School and was a very talented player in football, baseball, and basketball. In football he was the Most Valuable Player in 1955 and All State, High School All American and Most Valuable Player all in 1956. In basketball he was the Most Valuable Player in 1955 and All State and Most Valuable Player in 1956 and was given the nickname “Bingo”. In baseball he also succeeded and was All State in 1956 and 1957. He was so successful in baseball that he walked on and tried out for the St. Louis Cardinals Professional Baseball Team.

After his successful years of high school sports, he began his career as a sheriff’s officer in Deming, NM and then went on to work at the Highway Department in Las Cuces, NM before finally finding his true passion working as New Mexico State Police Officer and was dedicated and courageous until his retirement. He loved his job, loved helping others, and of course was loved and respected by many. Higino later became a local businessman and owned and operated several restaurants.

Once Higinio was fully retired he had many hobbies and passions. He enjoyed playing poker with his buddies, going deep sea fishing, attending horse races and gambling at casinos. He also loved supporting and attending high school football games, NMSU football and basketball games and of course and big supporter of the Deming Wildcats. He enjoyed watching sports on TV and rooting for his Chicago Cubs and Las Vegas Raiders. Higinio really enjoyed watching his grandson Jeffery play football for Mayfield High School along with watching his children participating in sports.

He is survived by his loving wife of 68 years, Nioma (Lucero) Molina of Las Cruces, NM; his son, Dennis (Laura S.) Molina of Pleasanton, TX; two siblings, Ralph Molina of Deming, NM and Toni (Mark) Wilkerson of Santa Barbara, CA; a grandson, Jeffery Molina of Las Cruces, NM; two step-grandchildren, Amanda (Joey) Gonzalez and Jordan (Ester) De Luna both of San Antonio, TX. Higinio is preceded in death by his parents Higinio and Soledad Molina; two children Missy and Orlando Molina; two siblings, Marcelina Madrid and Nellie Baca.

A Memorial Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday, September 9, 2025 at 11 o’clock in the morning at St. Ann Catholic Church (400 S. Ruby St, Deming, NM 88030). The rite of committal and inurnment will follow at Mountain View Cemetery (3410 E. Pine St, Deming, NM 88030). Father Tony Basso will be officiating. Cremation has been entrusted to Baca’s Mimbres Crematory.

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