Minnie was born in the Warm Springs hills and was one of ten children born to Jose F. and Anna C. Vargas. Minnie attended Warm Springs Grammar School. She met her husband-to-be at a "house party" which were weekly customs in those days among the Portuguese people where they came together to dance. Manuel Sarmento and Minnie were married October 4, 1913, in Mission San Jose, by Father Abel Costa, with Minnie's brother, Joe, and his wife Annie Vargas as their witnesses. Minnie wore a wedding gown and veil and changed to a navy blue suit with a fashionable "hobble skirt" to go away with her new husband who dressed in a black suit. Minnie's fashion statement became a hindrance when they had to race to catch the train in Warm Springs for their honeymoon in San Francisco.

Minnie and Manuel lived all of their married lives in the area. The newlyweds made their first home on Vargas Road in a house built by Minnie's paternal uncle Tony Vargas, for the whom the road was named. Minnie and Manuel lived there about two and a half years. During this time, Minnie, delivered two daughters at the home of her parents, Joe and Anna Vargas with her mother, Anna, acting as midwife. The loss of their first baby, Mary, who died one week after her birth in 1914 was offset by the joy of the arrival of another daughter, Rosalind Anna, on December 14, 1915. During this time Manuel farmed hay in an agreement in which he share cropped with Minnie's uncles, Tony and Manuel Vargas.

Manuel and Minnie saved and were able to buy 27 acres and build their own home on Warm Springs Boulevard in central Warm Springs. Here they planted
orchards of prunes, apricots, walnuts and also farmed two acres of corn. Two sons, Joseph James (May 25, 1917) and Anthony Joseph, (April 12, 1918) were born to them in this new home.

Minnie cared for many people in her life. Manuel's two uncles, Joe and Manuel Jose Soito were both cared for by young Minnie. Joe Soito was a barber in Irvington. Joe became an invalid from apoplexy and Minnie took care of him for the last four years of his life. This was a difficult task as he lost his speech and was bedridden for much of this time. Tio Manuel Jose Soito, lived with the family for twenty eight years, from the time of Manuel and Minnie's marriage. Tio Manuel Jose Soito had a horse drawn sulky and was frequently seen during these years driving it around the Warm Springs area. He was cared for by Minnie until his death on May 7, 1942. Manuel had welcomed his widowed mother, Maria E. Soito, into his home from Faial, in 1917. Maria lived with Manuel and Minnie for about eleven years. Manuel Sarmento, Minnie's own dear husband, was stricken with a brain tumor and died on August 28, 1928. His mother, Maria Soito had a stroke and followed her son in death about a month later.

Minnie's caretaking days were not over with the death of her husband and mother-in-law. Manuel's brother, Frank Sarmento, a widower, had remarried Rose Andrade Mendonca and had three daughters by this marriage, Rose (1919), Lillian (1920) and Marjorie (192?). Rose Andrade Mendonca had 6 children from a previous marriage, John, Clara, Minnie, Gertrude, Angeline, and Annie. With Frank's two little girls from his marriage to Mary Vargas, little Madeline and Mary Sarmento, the household of eleven children was a very large one. Frank had diabetes and had his leg amputated. He never fully recovered from the amputation and died in 1934. Minnie helped her brother-in-law's family by caring for the three youngest girls at various times in their childhood. Minnie also took care of Frank's daughter from his first marriage, Mary Sarmento, from the time she was 12 until she married, at age 19, on April 22, 1928 to Manuel Enos. It was after Mary's marriage in April that she took Lillian Sarmento permanently into her home in June of 1928. Lillian was seven year old and lived with Minnie until she married. Lillian married Louis Rodrigues on November 26, 1939. In retrospect, 1928 was a year of many changes for Minnie, Mary Sarmento left her home in marriage in April, Lillian, came to live with her in June. Her husband, Manuel, died in August and her mother-in-law died the next month. Her daughter, Rosalind, was queen of the Holy Ghost Festa in Mission San Jose in the spring of 1928.

Minnie was very resilient and, after Manuel's death, Minnie continued to run the ranch on her own. She remarried John Souza on January 25, 1930. Minnie met John when she asked him to help haul her apricot crop with his truck. John joined in her farming operation until he took over Minnie's side job of custodian of the Warm Springs Grammar School. Minnie's son, Joe, then took over the farming of the ranch. John Souza later was appointed fire chief of the Warm Springs Fire Department and their meetings were held in Minnie's home. The fire equipment, including a 400 gallon pumper, was housed in her sheds. She donated water to the fire department, and the fire horn was attached to her water tank. Minnie's son, Joe Sarmento and Joe Brown, the owner of the Warm Springs store, were the first ones to take out the fire truck. They rushed to a fire which had started on a truck loaded with hay. They used so much water pressure that they shot the hay off the truck and the truck still burned! John and Minnie divorced after 22 years of marriage. After John Souza left Minnie's home in Warms Springs, Tony Brazil took over as fire chief, but Minnie stayed involved with the fire department. All fires were reported by a phone call to Minnie's garage and Minnie or her daughter, Rosalind, would run across the street to sound the fire alarm. In order for the truck to leave they needed two men and, if the third one didn't show up, they left a note on the bulletin board telling where the fire was.

Alone again, Minnie went to live with her daughter Rosalind who had married Alfred Smith (December 22, 1910-June 1, 1988), the son of Joaquin "Jack" Smith and Isabel Pedro, who also raised their family in Warm Springs.

Minnie Vargas Sarmento Souza was always very active in her community. She was involved in the affairs of the Warm Springs Grammar School and was the first person to ever receive an honorary life membership in P.T.A. from that school. She collected for various fund raising drives and was a life long member of S.P.R.S.I. Sao Gabriel Council #84, holding many of the offices throughout the years. Always active in the Portuguese community, she belonged to the U.P.P.E.C in Mission San Jose and the I.D.E.S. in Warm Springs. Minnie died peacefully at the home of her daughter, Rosalind, on August 5, 1980 at the age of 82. Copyright Susan Vargas Murphy. All rights reserved.