Benceslado (Ben) Gallegos

Benceslado (Ben) Gallegos, 92, joined his wife in heaven on June 12, 2015. He was born in Albuquerque, NM on May 10, 1923, the oldest of eight children to Manuel Antonio Gallegos and Felipita Torres Gallegos. Ben graduated from Albuquerque High School in 1941. He married Modesta Garcia on June 25, 1942 and they moved to Denver, CO where he worked for Remington Arms Co. He was inducted into the U.S. Army in March 1943. He served in the European Theater as a Field Radio Operator, Technician Fifth Grade in the 45th Signal Company operating in France, Germany, and Belgium and was in the Battle of the Bulge. After completing his tour in the European Theater, he was on a troop ship in route to the South Pacific when the atomic bombs were dropped on Japan. Following the war he joined his wife in Albuquerque. He began his career with the U.S. Postal Service and retired as a supervisor in 1980. He enjoyed stone cutting, making jewelry, hunting, fishing, and camping; but most of all he enjoyed spending time at his cabin in Pagosa Springs, CO. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 64 years, Modesta; infant son, Phillip; his parents; brothers, Alfred, and Paul Gallegos; sister, Theresa De La O; and lifelong friend, Max Lucero. He is survived by five children, Ben Ronald Gallegos and wife Reena of Los Lunas, Charles LeRoy Gallegos and wife Mary Louise of Pagosa Springs, CO, Rita Gallegos Logan and husband Mike of Los Chavez, Patricia G. D'Angelo and husband Mark of Albuquerque, and Phillip A. Gallegos and spouse Rudy Archibeque of Edgewood; ten grandchildren, Greg Gallegos and wife Dolores of Pagosa Springs, CO, Melissa G. Ybarra and husband Tony of Rio Rancho, Pamela Machac and husband Gerald of Bedford, TX, Fred Gallegos and wife Anna of Albuquerque, Jason D'Angelo and wife Jeanina, Adam D'Angelo, Derek Logan and fiancAC.e Faith of Belen, Juliet Labreche and husband Francis, Shanna Therese Sanchez and husband Gilbert, and Trisha Modestine Pillars and husband Marcus, all of Albuquerque. He is also survived by 13 great-grandchildren, Matthew, Michael and Anthony Gallegos, Luis-Miguel, Marco, and Sylvianna Ybarra, Krystle Griego, Matthew and Lauryn Machac, Luke Chavez and Zaiah Logan, Sophia and Madeline Labreche; two brothers, Tony and Louie Gallegos; sisters, Agnes Sanchez and Annie Sanchez. Rosary will be recited on Tuesday, June 16, 2015 at 6:00 p.m. at St. Anne's Catholic Church, 1400 Arenal SW. Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday, June 17, 2015 at 9:00 a.m. also at St. Anne's Catholic Church. Interment will be Thursday, June 18, 2015 at 10:30 a.m. at Santa Fe National Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Greg Gallegos, Fred Gallegos, Jason D'Angelo, Adam D'Angelo, Derek Logan, and Anthony Gallegos. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Heart or American Lung Association.