Benjamin Ernest Archuleta's Obituary
High mountain timber, a fast running stream, and an afternoon spent on his horse was pretty close to paradise for our dad.
Born December 20, 1926 and living independently until the last month of his life, Benjamin Ernest Archuleta lived for the better part of 95 years. He died October 26, 2021 at home, with all of the family that could gather at his bedside.
The first of nine children, Ben was born to Agapito and Altagracia Archuleta in Trujillo Colorado. He was raised by his grandparents Chris and Assencion (Mary) Cordova. A significant turning point in life was when he learned to play guitar as a young boy. Music was his joy, his best and oldest friend.
WWII meant a call to serve in the Army in the Philippines islands that ended when the nuclear bombs were dropped on Japan in 1945. Those two years of life he relived often with strong emotion and details that would never leave his psyche.
February 10, 1946, on a snowy winter day, he married Madeline Martinez, and they began their family of 5 children: Evelyn (Gilbert) Ulibarri, Priscilla, (Joseph) Quintana, Patricia Archuleta, Carol (Skip) Watts and Shelly (Matthew) Archuleta-Boyce. Their family grew to include fifteen grandchildren, twenty-seven great grandchildren, and one new great, great grandson. Ben and Madeline were married for 71 years at the time of her death in August of 2018.
Ben’s happiness came from horseback riding, gardening, playing music, hunting and fishing. A unique man with a unique outlook in that he did not expect life to be easy and he was truly grateful for what he had. He was tough as nails and lived without dread of hardship or fear of hard work. Each day was measured by what he and Madeline accomplished together.
We cannot begin to express our gratitude for the way he cared for our mom and for the energy he put into providing for his kids. We are particularly thankful that he showed us how to cope with the harsh realities of life, whistling when he was happy or sad, and planting enough green chile, peas and lemon cucumbers to share with family and friends. Thank you, Dad for the music, love and respect for the natural world, the hard work, the stories and the strong heart that kept beating long after you took your last breath.
He was preceded in death by his wife Madeline, granddaughter Melanie, son-in-law Erwin (Skip) Watts, brothers Pete, Mark and Fred Archuleta and survived by his children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and great, great grandson, sisters Dolores Martines, Berlinda Archuleta and brother Rupert Archuleta.
We will come together in prayer and celebration of his life on November 6th at 11:00 am for Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, 670 E. 1100 So. SLC. A Holy Rosary will start at 10:30am at the same location and the interment will take place at Mt. Calvary Catholic Cemetery at 12:30pm with luncheon at 2:00pm at Miss Billie's Kids Kampus at 232 w. 800 S. Salt Lake City, Ut 84101 afterwards.
Archuleta children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and great, great grandchildren:
Evelyn (Gilbert) Ulibarri: (grandson) Joe Ulibarri, (grandson) Dave Ulibarri, (great grandson) Milo, (grandson) Gabriel Ulibarri, (great grandson) Andrew, (great granddaughter) Clare.
Priscilla (Joe) Quintana: (granddaughter) Bernadette Powell, (great granddaughter) Amanda, (granddaughter) Lisa Wright, (great grandson) William, (great grandson) Nicholas, (granddaughter) Linda Boggess, (great granddaughter) Maddie, (great, great grandson) Jaxon, (great grandson) Alex, (great grandson) Sam, (great grandson) Ben, (granddaughter) Melanie, (grandson) Joe Quintana, (great granddaughter) Melanie, (great granddaughter) Savannah, (great granddaughter) Elizabeth, (great grandson) Dominick.
Patricia Archuleta: (grandson) Chriss Archuleta, (great granddaughter) Legaci, (great granddaughter) Analisa, (great granddaughter) Sannetta, (great grandson) Antonio, (great grandson) Dax, (great grandson) fetus, (grandson) Joshua Archuleta, (great granddaughter) Angelica, (great granddaughter) Ellena, (great granddaughter) Victoria, (grandson) Eric Nielsen.
Carol (Skip) Watts: (grandson) Justin Anderson, (great granddaughter) Lilianna, (granddaughter) Elizabeth Johnson, (great grandson) Cooper, (great grandson) Levi, (granddaughter) Tressa Ortiz, (great grandson) Leo, (great granddaughter) Aspen.
Shelly (Matthew) Archuleta-Boyce: (granddaughter) Isabella Boyce
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