BEN VIARRIAL

BEN "Mr. Ben" VIARRIAL Age 78, a resident of the Pueblo of Pojoaque, passed away on Saturday, October 9, 2010 at home after a battle with cancer. He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 54 years, Flora V. Viarrial; parents, Fermin and Feliciana Viarrial; paternal grandparents, Fermin and Ceferina Salazar-Viarrial, maternal grandparents, Jose Antonio and Senobia Tapia; godparents, Guadalupe and Juanita Jiron; brothers: Gabriel, Margarito and Governor Jacob Viarrial; sisters: Mary Agnes and Frances Viarrial; sons: Robert, David, Leroy, and Ben Jr.; daughter: Gloria Viarrial and twin babies; great-granddaughter, Amorita Gallegos; brothers-in-law: Santiago, Tobias, Liborio Lopez, Teofilo Medina, Abe LeDoux, Manuel Romero, Virgil Petty, Gilbert Mascareñas, and Randy Gomez; sisters-in-law: Belen LeDoux and Clara Saiz, and other relatives. Ben, born July 31, 1932, was the first-born child on the Pueblo of Pojoaque. In April 1932, with his parents, maternal grandfather Jose Antonio Tapia, and five siblings, were the first family who returned to the Pueblo of Pojoaque. Grandma Senobia and other family returned three or so months later. They traveled from Kearns, Colorado for almost two weeks, their transportation being five horses and two covered wagons. Upon their arrival, it marked the beginning of re-establishment of the Pueblo of Pojoaque. Ben served as the first Tribal Sheriff for the Pueblo of Pojoaque, a Lieutenant Governor, supervisor in various fields, and a longtime Tribal Council member up to the time of his death. In the early 1970s when the pueblo began their traditional dances, Ben lead his fellow tribal members with the Comanche dance. In addition, he and his wife Flora were volunteer EMTs with the Nambe Ambulance service. On his off time, Ben enjoyed the casinos; it was a place where he could visit with many of his friends. Everywhere he went Ben was greeted by many of his friends who he loved to either pick on or tell them a joke. In Ben's eyes, what made his life complete was the love he held for his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and all his family and friends. He will be dearly missed by all who knew him. Mr. Viarrial is survived by his daughters: Gabriella "Gaby" Viarrial, Betty Jean Viarreal, Annette Hooper and husband, Tommy; his son, Joseph Viarrial and wife, Donna all from the Pueblo of Pojoaque; sisters: Cordilia Gomez, Josefina Villarreal, Phoebe Petty and companion, Milton, and Dora Martinez; brothers: Ralph and Jimmy Viarrial all from the Pueblo of Pojoaque; 20 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; and many godchildren; a special brother-in-law, Arthur Saiz; sisters-in-law: Epimenia Medina, Juanita Martinez, and Rosita Esquibel, and numerous other relatives and friends. Ben and Flora also raised Jeff Montoya, Gabriel Montoya Sr., Juanita Lopez, Rosita Lopez, Tommy Lopez, and Rhoda Phillips. Public visitation will begin on Monday, October 11, 2010 at 6 p.m. in the Sangre de Cristo Chapel of DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory with a Rosary to be recited at 7 p.m. A second Rosary will be recited on Tuesday, October 12, 2010 at 7 p.m. at the family home in the Pueblo of Pojoaque. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, October 13, 2010 at 11 a.m. at the Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Pojoaque. Burial will follow at the Pojoaque Catholic Cemetery with his grandchildren serving as pallbearers. The family of Ben "Mr. Ben" Viarrial has entrusted his funeral arrangements to DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory of the Espanola Valley. 505-747-7477 or www.devargasfuneral.com.