Benjamin F. (Chanke) Age - 78 - Peñasco Sanchez, Sr.

Benjamin F. Sanchez, Sr. (Chanke), 78, a lifelong resident of Peñasco passed away peacefully on Wednesday, January 2, 2013. Ben was born on November 7, 1934 in Peñasco. He graduated from Peñasco High School and was part of the first Peñasco basketball team to ever qualify for state competition. He later joined the US Army and served during the Korean War. He married Priscilla Trujillo on June 4, 1960. They celebrated 52 years of marriage. Ben worked at the Port of Entry in Gallup, the Forest Service in Peñasco, in construction, and as a Guard at the State Penitentiary until he began working for the MICA mine where he retired. He loved his family and enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren, great-grandchildren, fly fishing and hunting. He was preceded in death by his parents, Vidal and Doloritas Sanchez; brothers: Sartunino, Estevan and Gilbert Sanchez; sisters: Josie King, Lucy Visarraga and Mary Maestas. Ben is survived by his wife, Priscilla (Trujillo) Sanchez; his sister: Carlotta Pacheco, Rosanna Lopez and husband Emiterio, Doris Armijo and husband Anival, and Eliza Romero; children: Louise Leyba and partner Cesar, Benjamin Sanchez Jr. and wife Annette, David Sanchez and wife Lynda, Eileen Quezada and husband Teofilo; grandchildren: Leeann and Ricky Valdez, Nelson and Linda Leyba, Manuel and James Leyba, Amanda and Victor Cordova, Nicole and Marcial Lujan, Benjamin Sanchez III and partner Cipriana, Hailey, David, Roxanne and Amaris Sanchez, Jerome and Kimberly Vigil and Alexander Vigil; 12 great-grandchildren: Brianna and Ricky Valdez, Isaiah, Joshua and Angel Leyba, Zachariah and Andre Leyba, Ezequiel Leyba, Christopher Cordova, Isabelle Trujillo, Ava Sanchez and Xavier Vigil; numerous in-laws, nieces, nephews, other loving relatives & friends. Public visitation will be held on Tuesday, January 8, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. in Chapel of Peace of DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory. Rosary will be recited on Tuesday, January 8, 2013 at 7:00 p.m. at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Peñasco. Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, January 9, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Peñasco with burial to take place at Santa Fe National Cemetery at 3:00 p.m. Serving the family as pallbearers will be Nelson Leyba Jr., Ben Sanchez III, David Sanchez, Alex Vigil, Edward Visarraga and Jason Apodaca; honorary pallbearers: Johnny and Ignacita Roybal, Eli and Faby Romero, Fred Martinez, Lupe Herrera, Manuel and Rosabel Corrales, Vern Paulson (Debbie). The family of Benjamin F. Sanchez, Sr. (Chanke) have entrusted the care of their loved one to DeVargas Funeral & Cremaroty of the Española Valley. 505-747-7477

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