Benson Benally

Funeral services for Benson Yazzie Benally, 37, will be 10 a.m., Thursday, Dec. 17, at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church, Chinle. The Rev. Blane Grein, OFM, will officiate. Burial will be in Community Cemetery, Chinle. Visitation will be one hour prior to services. Benally died Dec. 8, 2009, in Flagstaff. He was born April 5, 1972, in Fort Defiance, into the Bitter Water People Clan for the Near the Water People Clan. Benally graduated from Chinle High School. He served in the Navy from 1992 to 2000. He loved to cook and travel. Survivors include his wife, Adela Rodriguez; mother, Louise Thomas; brothers, Venson Yazzie, Samuel Thomas Jr., Calvin Thomas, Leon Thomas, Julius Thomas; sisters, Grace Hamblen, Phyllis Thomas. Benally was preceded in death by his adopted parents, Guy and Rose Benally; grandparents, Ben and Zonnie John. Pallbearers will be Venson Yazzie, Samuel Thomas Jr., Calvin Thomas, Leon Thomas, Julius Thomas, Cliff Hamblen. Tse Bonito Mortuary is in charge of arrangements