Belen (Zuniga) Calderón, 82, of the Albert Lea, Minnesota, area passed away Thursday, Jan. 11, 2018, at her residence in Brownsville, Texas.

She was born on Aug. 15, 1935, in Valle Hermoso, Tamualipas, Mexico, the daughter of Aurelio and Aurora (Perez) Zuniga. Belen came to the United States while in her 20s. She settled in Minnesota, where she worked for the Hollandale Marketing Association for many years. It meant a lot to Belen that she received her United States citizenship. While living in Hollandale, Minnesota, she owned and operated the Tampico Bar for two years. After her retirement, Belen moved to Brownsville to escape the Minnesota winters and be closer to children who lived there. She enjoyed gardening, cooking, dancing and watching Mexican soap operas on television. Belen especially loved to spend time with her family and friends.

Survivors include her children, Victor (Naomi) Garcia of Brownsville, Mario (Sylvia) Garcia of Brownsville, Melisanda (Rigo) Alvarado of Charlotte, North Carolina, Irma (Bernardo) Pinales of San Benito, Texas, Pablo (Lourdes) Garcia of Brownsville, Aurora (Francisco) Villalobos of Mexico, Adelina (Jesse) Tovar, Diana Perez of Albert Lea, John (Heidi) Sanchez of Hayfield, Minnesota, Delfino (Amy) Sanchez of Albert Lea, and Bridget (Danny) Maulding of Parlier, California; 45 grandchildren; many great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchildren; brothers and sisters, Agapito (Celia) Zuniga of Mexico, Carmela Zuniga of Mexico, Elida (Guadalupe) Reyes of Albert Lea, Olga (Reymundo) Meneses of Mexico and Maria Wilborn of Albert Lea; a sister-in-law, Lydia Zuniga of Hollandale; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.  She was preceded in death by her parents, Aurelio and Aurora; and her brother, Pedro.

Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 20, 2018, at First Lutheran Church in Blooming Prairie, Minnesota, with Pastor Heidi Heimgartner officiating.

Interment will follow the service in the Blooming Prairie Cemetery. Visitation will be held for one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday.

The Worlein-Blooming Prairie Funeral Home is assisting the family with the arrangements.

Condolences may be expressed to the family online atwww.worlein.com.