Rudolph Lee "Rudy" Echeverria

Rudolph Lee Echeverria, age 92, of Maricopa (formerly a 39 year resident of Casa Grande) passed away on April 11, 2026 on his beloved wife Dolly’s birthday, at his residence and farm in Maricopa, AZ. He was born on December 18, 1933 in Wickenburg, AZ to his parents, Miguel and Vicencia Echeverria, who were both Basque immigrants from Spain. Rudy was the 9th of 12 children. He was raised in Wickenburg, where he was a basketball star and quarterback, even making history at Wickenburg High School as the largest basketball point scorer. He married the love of his life, Helen Biehn, aka “Dolly” on May 8, 1957. In 2010 the year of Dolly’s death they had celebrated 53 years of marriage. Together they not only raised their four children, they mentored many other nieces, nephews, close friends and anyone needing a helping hand or some parental guidance, impacting many lives throughout their lifetime. Rudy was a successful sheepman and rancher and branched out to farming in his latter years. He had a gentle, kind spirit that both people and animals gravitated to.

In 1956, Rudy partnered with his beloved brother Julio whom preceded him in death in 2024. Rudy also partnered with his nephew Mark Echeverria and his son Ramsey. Over his lifetime he shared countless business ventures with his brothers Mike, Robert, Domingo and Roy, and all told, at their peak, the 6 Echeverria brothers ran close to 20,000 ewes and another 30-40,000 feeder lambs a year. The original 5 Echeverria brothers came to Casa Grande around 1956. Echeverria Feeding was founded and “fattened” tens of thousands of feeder lambs in the winter months. Robert, Julio and Rudy purchased Cross Mountain Sheep Company from their parents, where they ran both sheep and cattle on the their Seligman and Wickenburg ranches, which have been in the family for 100 years.

The Bible teaches us to be like Jesus and Rudy’s life emphasized that. Rudy was cared for by his family until the very end. He died in a cocoon of love.

He was preceded in death by his parents, 6 brothers and 4 sisters, and his beloved wife Dolly. He is survived by his brother Donald, his four children, Vicencia, Gigi (& Bill), Jennifer, and Ram (& Monique), along with 11 grandchildren, 26 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

A visitation will be held on Friday, April 17, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. with Mass to be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. at St. Andrew the Apostle Catholic Church, 3450 W. Ray Road, Chandler, Arizona 85226.