Harry George Pastian

Harry George Pastian, 81, passed away peacefully in his sleep on January

8, 2021. Harry was the proud owner of Pastian’s Bakery in Albuquerque, NM, for over 48 years. Harry was born in New Leipzig, North Dakota in 1939. He grew up in Missoula, Mt. with his father Edwin Pastian and Mother Hertha (Friesz) Pastian, both deceased, along with his brother Marvin Pastian, sisters Adeline Trowbridge and Mary Lou of Albuquerque.

Harry joined the air force in 1956. In 1957, he met Miriam Hopkins while stationed at Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina. They married after just 6 months, on June 14, 1958 at only 19 years of age. Shortly after, he was sent to Alaska where he served 13 months. He was proud of the fact, that he was in Alaska in 1959, when it became a state. Harry was honorably discharged in 1960 and worked as an electrician in South Carolina for 6 months until moving to Albuquerque in January 1961. His first job was with Jill’s Bakery as a baker, foreman, then Vice President of Production. In July 1972 he bought Winrock Bakery with only 13 employees. In 1984, he bought his own building and land and moved operations to 3320 2nd Street NW, still having a retail store in Winrock Center. The name was changed to Pastian’s Bakery, currently with 30 employees. Harry worked as a baker from 1955 to 2021, owning his own business for more than 49 years.

Miriam passed away in 2017, after 58 years of marriage. Together they had 2 daughters, Sheri Pastian of Albuquerque and Teri Paxton who lives in Austin, Texas, his son-in-law Chuck Paxton; grandchildren, Jaime, 28 of Ana, Texas and twins, Nikki and Natalie, 22, who attend Texas Tech University in Lubbock. His only 3 grandchildren were the light of his life.

Harry was a quiet, humble man, who worked 8-10 hours a day until the day he died. His customers were his priority and still lived by the motto, “the customer is always right”. He loved to give tours of the bakery whenever friends stopped by, he was just so proud of it and it showed as he gave “the nickel tour”. Besides his family, there was nothing he was prouder of than his bakery. Harry loved his motor home, and wherever it would take him. He was the happiest behind the wheel, with his family in the back, headed to the next location.

He will be forever missed.

Services will be held Monday, January 25, 2021, 10:00 a.m., with a visitation from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a. m., at Legacy Church, 4702 Wyoming Blvd. NE., Albuquerque 87109 with a reception to follow the service. A private graveside service will be held at Santa Fe National Cemetery for family only. Please visit our online guestbook for Harry at www.FrenchFunderals.com