Yolanda Rabago

Yolanda (Montes) Rabago joined her husband in death on December 15, 2022, at the age of 86 in Las Vegas, NV.
Yolanda is survived by her adopted son, Troy M. Wussow-Rabago, sister Alicia, brothers Guillermo and Salvador Montes, niece Gabriela Machain, and many additional nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews in the United States and Mexico.
Yolanda was born on August 12, 1936 to Narciso Montes and Camerina (Hernandes) Montes in Mexico City, MX. She graduated from the University of Mexico City with a major in Communications, and a minor in dance. It was during her time at University that she met and fell in love with her husband Manuel Rabago, of Guanajuato, MX. Following their marriage, the founder of Hallmark Cards, J. C. Hall visited the factory in Mexico City and saw the oil on canvas painting donated to the factory by her husband. Mr. Hall demanded to meet the artist of that painting, and then traveled across the border to Texas to meet with Yolanda and Manuel. Mr. Hall immediately offered them employment at the Hallmark Cards factory in Kansas City, MO; and he paid for all their moving expenses and helped them find a home.
Yolanda’s 20-year Communications career at Hallmark consisted of performing language interpretations for all written and telephone communications between the Hallmark plant in Kansas City, and the Hallmark factory and distributors throughout Mexico. Her command of both the Spanish and English languages was outstanding and propelled her professional career. She especially loved having the ability to join her husband for lunch every workday at the fabulous Hallmark Crown Center employee cafeteria.
Yolanda had many passions during her long life, which included gardening of her favorite plants: variegated roses, dancing, interior design, hosting many dinner parties in which she prepared gourmet Hispanic cuisine for their many friends, and traveling to Mexico City often to visit with her family and friends. She also shared a passion with her husband for the studies of Hispanic and South American archaeology, mathematics, and sciences of the Aztec, Mayan, Toltec and other ancient cultures. Through a grant from the University of Phoenix, Arizona, she and Manuel visited and studied many pyramids throughout Mexico and South America, and eventually wrote and presented a manuscript of the first in-depth study of Hispanic archaeology and history to the University. Their manuscript was accepted and added to the Literary Vault located at the University of Southern California.
Yolanda and Manuel were unable to have children of their own, and spent over 20-years volunteering their time teaching Judo and Ju Jutsu self-defense for children at the Prairie Village, KS, Y.M.C.A. It was during that time that Yolanda proudly earned the rank of Brown-Belt in Judo. They later taught children’s self-defense from their home in Leawood, KS.
She became a mother for the first time in August, 1979 when she and her husband opened their home and provided respite foster care for their son, Troy M. Wussow-Rabago. They welcomed him into their new home in Kearney, MO, learned to become a family together, and provided respite care for three years until he joined the U.S. Navy in July, 1982. They adopted Troy in September, 1984, and were very proud of his Military service; most especially his duties as crewman aboard the famous Battleship USS Missouri (BB 63). Following Troy’s return home, and achieving the rank of Black-Belt in Judo and Ju
Jutsu himself, they proudly assisted in constructing the first Rabago School of Self-Defense named “Ai-Ki-Ju-Do Jutsu Ryu” in 1991.
Manuel retired from Hallmark after 35-years of service, and in 1992 they moved to their first retirement home in Kent, Washington, to spend time with Manuel’s family. Yolanda was not fond of the cold weather, and enduring many years of Washington State’s freezing conditions, she persuaded Manuel to move to their final and much warmer retirement home in 2006. She spent the remaining years of life with her husband and family in Henderson, NV.
Yolanda will be remembered by all who knew her for her happy, kind, generous, courageous, virtuous and energetic nature, and eternal Christian devotion to her beloved Dios Padre and Dios Ijho. Her remains will be joined with her husband’s, and interred by their son within the famous rose gardens at the first American town they called home: Kansas City, MO. A private memorial ceremony will be held in Las Vegas with the family de Montes’ at a later date.