Deaths

• Andrew Becenti
• Cynthia Blackgoat
• Victoria Salas
• Franklin Showa Sr.
• Paul Begay
• Henry Mannie
• Tara Lind

Andrew Becenti

FARMINGTON — Funeral services for Andrew R. Becenti, 46, will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, April 11, at St. Michaels Catholic Parish Church.

Visitation will be at 7 p.m. tonight, April 10, at Cope Memorial Chapel.

Becenti died April 7 in Rio Rancho, N.M. He was born April 7, 1961 in Shiprock into the Mud People Clan for the Towering House People Clan.

Becenti earned his bachelor's degree and taught Navajo Culture Studies at Navajo Preparatory School, Din College and Fort Lewis College. He was the girls volleyball coach at Navajo Preparatory School where he coached them to N.M. Regional and State Tournaments. He was Navajo Times Coach of the Year for Volleyball in 1999. He was a guest speaker and presenter for numerous medical and university institutes on Navajo culture and traditional beliefs. Becenti was also a well-known medicine man practitioner and enjoyed working with his livestock.

Survivors include his foster sons, Melvin, Theo, Travis, and Vince; foster daughter, Nellie D. Begay; mother, Ruth Damon; sisters, Phyllis, Irma Jean, Alyce, Elouise, Mae Arviso, Stephanie Begay, Flora Stewart, Carol Roanhorse, Marlene Lynch and Judy Tso; brothers, Alvin, Albert, Lance, Andy Benally, Virgil Oliver, Gil Arviso Sr., Clifford Gaddy, Homer Gleason Jr.; foster parents, James W. Begay; grandparents, Victor M. and Gladys Begay.

Becenti is preceded in death by grandparents, Togo and Flora Damon.

Pallbearers will be Albert Becenti, Alvin Becenti, Lance Becenti, Homer Gleason Jr., Fred Henio Jr., Nick Becenti, Melvin Andre and Vincent Lee.

The family will receive relatives an friends at St. Michaels Parish Hall.

Cope Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Cynthia Blackgoat

KINLICHEE — Funeral services for Cynthia Blackgoat, 54, will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, April 11, at the All Saints Catholic Church in Ganado. Father Flane O'Neil, OFM, will officiate. Burial will follow in Kinlichee.

Blackgoat died April 7 in Flagstaff. She was born August 30, 1952, in Ganado into the Coyote Pass Clan for the Water Flows Together Clan.

Blackgoat graduated from Gallup High School in 1972. She was employed with Wal-Mart, volunteered at Kinlichee Chapter, Kinlichee School and was a counselor with Window Rock Police Dept.

Survivors include her husband, Jackson Blackgoat of Kinlichee; sons, Brandon Begay of Phoenix, Onan Begay, Charleston Wauneka and Derek Wauneka, all of Kinlichee; daughter, Vanessa Wauneka of Kinlichee; mother, Dorothy Cook of Cross Canyon, Ariz.; brother, Jerry Cook of Cross Canyon; sister, Ann Sandoval of Lukachukai; 9 grandchildren.

Blackgoat was preceded in death by her father, Harry Nez; Elizabeth Lyons, Jackie Lyons, and Herman Lyons.

Pallbearers will be family members.

The family will receive relatives and friends at Kinlichee Chapter House after services.

Silver Creek Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Victoria Salas

GALLUP — Funeral Mass for Victoria E. Salas, 82, will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, April 11, at Saint Francis Church. Father Edward "Lalo" Espinosa Chacon will officiate. Burial will be in Sunset Memorial Park.

Visitation will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, April 11, at Saint Francis Church. A rosary will be recited at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 11.

Salas died April 5 in Gallup. She was born December 29, 1924 in Flagstaff.

Survivors include her son, David Salas Sr. of Gallup; daughter, Deborah Castillo of Albuquerque; sister, Carmen Maldonado-Hyde of Sweethome, Ore.; 8 grandchildren; 12 great grandchildren; one great-great grandchild.

Salas was preceded in death by son, Ken Salas; daughter, Mary Radosevich; parents, Canuto and Antonia Maldonado; brothers, Louie Maldonado, Pete Maldonado, and Canuto Maldonado Jr.

Pallbearers will be Mike Radosevich, Ryan Overman, Stephen Overman, Derek Overman, Shantel Mazon, and Lisa Gonzales-Ortiz.

The family will receive relatives and friends at 12:30 p.m. at the Elks Lodge.

Franklin Showa Sr.

FT. DEFIANCE — Funeral Mass for Franklin Paul Showa Sr., 78, will be at 1 p.m. today, April 10, at the St. Michael Mission in St. Michaels. Father Ronald Walters, OFM, will officiate. Burial will follow in Ganado Community Cemetary.

Visitation will be today at 12 p.m.at St. Michael Mission.

Showa died April 4 in Ft. Defiance. He was born July 12, 1928 in Ganado into the Manygoat People Clan for the Blacksheep People Clan.

Showa graduated from St. Michaels Indian School in 1952. He was an Army veteran from 1946 to 1949. Showa retired from McDonnell Douglas Aircraft Co. in Torrance, Calif., as machinist and later became a full-time farmer until his death. His enjoyed basketball and football games.

Survivors included his wife, Esther J. Showa; sons, Franklin P. Showa Jr. of Gardena, Calif., Joseph F. Showa of Mission Hills, Calif., Michael F. Showa of Gardena, Calif. and Anthony G. Showa of Indianapolis, Ind.; daughters, Teresa M. Showa of Ft. Defiance and Patricia A. Showa of Gardena; 8 grandchildren.

Showa was preceded in death by his brother, Paul Showa, and sister, Juanita Gorman.

Pallbearers will be Franklin Showa Jr., Michael Showa, Anthony Showa, Lafie Terry, Allen H. Chee and Thomas Notah.

The family will receive relatives and friends at All Saints Hall-Catholic Hall in Ganado after services.

Silver Creek Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Paul Begay

NASCHITTI — Funeral services for Paul Begay, 81, will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, April 11, at the Naschitti Christian Reformed Church. Pastor Phillip Destea will officiate. Burial will follow in the Naschitti Community Cemetery.

Begay died April 6, in Gallup. He was born April 10, 1925, in Naschitti into the Water Edge Clan for the Many Commanche Warrior Clan.

Begay was a life-long rancher.

Survivors include daughter, Doris John of Naschitti; sister, Sarah L. Kieyoomia of Naschitti.

Begay was preceded in death by his first wife, Betty Denetso Begay, second wife, Rita Joe Begay; brothers, Leon Begay and Charley T. Begay; Esther B. Dale.

Pallbearers will be Albert Kieyoomia, Olin Kieyoomia, Custer Bryant Sr., Cody Lee, Vernon Manuelito, and Shawn Nelson.

The family will receive relatives and friends at the Naschitti Chapter House.

Cope Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Henry Mannie

STEAMBOAT — Graveside services for Henry James Mannie, 75, will be at 11 a.m. today, April 10. Burial will follow on family land in Steamboat. A viewing will be at 10 a.m. before graveside services.

Mannie died April 3 in Phoenix. He was born December 19, 1929 in Steamboat into the Black Streak Forest Clan for the Big Water Clan.

Survivors include son, Alfonso Mannie; daughter, Laura Mannie; sisters, Julia Hildreth and Mary Jane Kee; eight grandchildren; two great grandchildren.

Mannie was preceded in death by his son, Emery John Mannie; parents, Dibe'lani Begay and Yilhaabaa Mannie; brother, John Mannie.

A reception will be at Judy Henderson's residence.

Tse Bonito Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Tara Lind

CANDY KITCHEN — Private family services for Tara Denise Lind, 37, will be annouced at a later date.

Lind died April 4 in Candy Kitchen. She was born December 30, 1969 in Lowell, Massachusetts.

She is survived by her husband, Henry Lind of Candy Kitchen; children, Zadkiel Lind and Galen Lind both of Candy Kitchen.

Compassion Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.