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Michael D. (Ben) Benyak, 81, passed on peacefully Thursday, September 2, 1999 at the Veterans Hospital in Albuquerque. He is survived by his special wife of 52 years, Maria of the family home; children, Diane and David of Albuquerque, Daniel and wife, Susan; grandchildren, Neal and Joe of Seattle, WA; brother, Al and wife, Helen of Flushing, NY; sisters, Rosemary and husband, Robert Betza and Agnes and husband, Steve Mahalko of Monessen, PA; and many nieces and nephews. Ben was born November 3, 1917 and raised in Monessen, PA. He joined the Army/Air Corps in Fort Mead, MD and served from 1934 to 1937. During WWII he was stationed at the Canal Zone in Panama. He married Maria Dankanich on June 1, 1947. His tours in the Army took him to Hawaii (Tripler Army Hospital) 1948-52, West Point Military Academy 1952-56, Frankfurt, Germany 1956-60, Walter Reed Army Hospital 1960-63, and Sandia Base 1963-68, where he retired and settled after a 26 year military career. Dad was proudest of seeing Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth hit homeruns at Pittsburgh's Forbes Field in the late 20s. He also worked with Vince Lombardi and Bobby Knight during their early Army careers at West Point, NY. He was a member of the American Legion Post 99, Catholic Sokols and The Coronado Club. Dad, you will be missed and thank you for everything. Services will be held Wednesday, 11:00 a.m., at Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church, 811 Guaymas Place NE, with Father Luis Jaramillo, Celebrant, and Deacon Rue W. White. Interment will follow at Santa Fe National Cemetery. Friends may visit French Mortuary, 1111 University Blvd. NE, Tuesday, 1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
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