Benerito Philadelphio Archuleta

Benerito "Benny" Philadelphio Archuleta, age 89, of Highlands Ranch, Colorado, passed away on Wednesday, June 28th, 2023 in his home surrounded by family. Benny was born September 4, 1933 in Los Ojos, New Mexico. In 1950, he left home to join the United States Air Force. After traveling the world in service to the U.S. military, Benny settled in Sacramento, California, where he went to cosmetology school and embarked on his next chapter as a hairdresser. Shortly after obtaining his license, his strong work ethic and entrepreneurial spirit facilitated the opening of his own salon in California, Fashion Tress. During this time, Benny met the love of his life, Shirley, while doing her hair on the set of the Gene Nelson Morning Show. The couple, with a blended and growing family, eventually settled in Sacramento with their children.
Family was the heart of Benny's world. He gave selflessly of himself to friends and family, always loving unconditionally. Time with dear friends and family was the hallmark of his life. Benny never met a stranger; anyone who had the privilege of meeting him was blessed by his gentle spirit and contagious laughter. He loved music, and quite literally, always had a song in his heart, made evident by his unrelenting whistling and foot tapping. Benny was also passionate about his faith, fishing, exercise and loved playing and watching basketball. He loved walking his dogs, Missy and Kishi, around his neighborhood in Sacramento, California, where he would socialize with dear friends and neighbors.
After 40 years as a professional stylist, Benny retired his shears. He and Shirley joined family in the plains of North Dakota where he worked alongside his son. Benny remained in North Dakota for 15 years until setting in Colorado in 2015. In 2018, his soulmate and wife of 56 years, went to be with Jesus. Although he was missing a piece of his heart, Benny still enjoyed trips to his family's home in New Mexico, spending time with family, going to the gym and walking in the park with his beloved Boston Terrier, Sugar.
A man who loved unconditionally and with the heart of Jesus, Benny was preceded in death by his wife, Shirley Yvonne James Archuleta; parents, Pedro Antonio Archuleta, Maria Antonia Archuleta (Madrid), siblings Richard Archuleta, Stella Stevens, and Pedro Archuleta and nephew Richard Archuleta. Benny is survived by his beloved dog, Sugar; son, Gilbert (Fran) Archuleta of Sacramento, California; daughter, Tonya (Scott) Lewis of Highlands Ranch, CO; son, Anthony (Cathy) Archuleta of Highlands Ranch, CO; siblings, Consuelo Archuleta of Highlands Ranch, CO, Jose Archuleta of Los Ojos, New Mexico; grandchildren, Julian Archuleta, Kelani Archuleta, and Makena Archuleta of Sacramento, California, Elisabeth Amanda Lewis of Highlands Ranch, Colorado, Timothy Bradford Lewis of North Dakota, Christina Rose Lewis Gleason, Andrew James Lewis of Minot, North Dakota, Oliver Scott Lewis of Highlands Ranch, CO, Olivia Lee Lewis of Highlands Ranch, CO, Sydney Antonia Archuleta of Highlands Ranch, CO, Anthony Samuel "TJ" Archuleta of Highlands Ranch, CO; great-grandchildren, Monique Archuleta, Analicia Archuleta and Alex Archuleta, Arianna Gleason, Grayson Scott Lewis, Isla Lewis, Amira Shae Lewis, Anissa Lee Yvonne Lewis. Nephews, Dennis (Kenna) Byrd, Milton (Rebecca) Archuleta, Pedro (Bianca) Archuleta, William Stevens, Lyman Stevens, Pete Stevens; Nieces Linda Zinn, Stella Dillon, Beverly (Martin) Ortiz, Carmela (Jaime) Olivas, Kelly (Jerry) Johnston, Kristy Duncan; great-nephews and great-nieces Ellie Byrd, Emma Byrd, Alejandro Archuleta, Pedro Archuleta, Ezra Archuleta, Zoey Archuleta, Leah Olivas, Elijah Olivas, Eva Olivas, Paul Ortiz, Annalicia Ortiz, J.T. Zinn, Angela Peters, Sarah Zinn, Steven Zinn, Amanda Zinn, Peter Stevens, Sheena Howell, Lyman Stevens Jr., Carissa Manifold, Rozelyn Bohrman, Cody (Samantha) Bohrman, Seth (Beth) Oldham, Heather (Michael) McCarty, Chris Oldham, Michael (Rainie) Oldham Jr., Mars Oldham; granddogs Kumo Archuleta, Missy Lewis and Scarlet Archuleta among other loving family and many friends.
Visitation for Benny will be held Friday, July 7, 2023 from 5:00 to 7:00pm at Olinger Chapel Hill Mortuary. A funeral service at Olinger Chapel Hill Mortuary will occur Saturday, July 8, 2023 at 10:00am, followed by graveside ceremony in Olinger Chapel Hill's onsite cemetery. Please join the family in continuing to celebrate Benny's life with a memorial reception after the graveside at 11:30am in Olinger Chapel Hill's Spruce Room.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.olingerchapelhill.com for the Archuleta family.