Deaths

• Marilyn Benally
• Wilbert Janis
• Joe Martinez
• Terry Sanford Sr.
  

Marilyn Benally

NAZLINI — Funeral services for Marilyn Benally, 57, will be 10 a.m., May 21, at Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Chinle. Bishop Smith will officiate. Burial will be in Chinle Cemetery.

Benally died May 17, 2011, in Phoenix. She was born Jan. 15, 1954, in Snowflake, into the Water Edge People Clan for the Red House People Clan.
Benally attended Chinle Boarding School, Intermountain High School and Ganado College. She worked at the Chinle Senior Citizen center, Chinle Head Start, and a cook at Chinle Valley School. She enjoyed weaving, puzzles, sewing, crocheting and knitting.

Survivors include her husband, Bennie Benally; sons, Jeffery Benally, Brendon Benally, Brian Benally; daughters, Loretta Tso, Elvira Begay, Crystal Benally, Cassandra Benally, Tilisa Benally; brothers, Joe Yazzie Toddy, Albert Toddy, Justin Tracey, Henry Silversmith Jr.; sisters, Rose Ann Begay, Susie Tracey; eight grandchildren.
Benally was preceded in death by her parents, Joe Toddy, Ella Mae Silversmith; brother, Joe Toddy Jr.

The family will receive relatives and friends at 14 miles south of Chinle, 1/4 mile west of mp 434, following services.

Silver Creek Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Wilbert Janis

PINE RIDGE — Wake services for Wilber Janis, 75, were 4 p.m., Wednesday, May 18, at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church Hall, Kyle, S.D. Funeral services will be 11 a.m., today, May 19, at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church Hall, Kyle, S.D. The Rev. Cordelia Red Owl and Rev. Joan Conroy will officiate. Burial will be in St. Stephen’s Catholic Church Cemetery, Kyle, S.D.
Janis died May 12, 2011, in Pine Ridge. He was born Aug. 1, 1935.

Janis was baptized at St. Stephens Catholic Church in Kyle, S.D. He lived in the Bombing Range area as a child. After being relocated from the Bombing Range area, his early homes were at No Flesh, Kyle, and Lost Dog Creek in Potato Creek. He enjoyed horseback riding, gardening, swimming, and being outdoors. Janis began horseback riding at the age of two. As a boy, he worked for ranchers in the area. During his earlier years, he was a 4-H Leader, Boy Scout Leader, participated in the Pine Ridge Youth Club, and was a Pee Wee Baseball Coach. Janis attended Oglala Boarding School in Pine Ridge, S.D. He participated in basketball, football, baseball and was in the high school choir. He loved to sing and play the guitar. After graduating he attended Black Hills State College in Spearfish, S.D. His employment consisted of working for the Bureau of Indian Affairs Census Department, South Dakota State Department of Social Services, and in 1963 he started a career with the BIA Employment Assistance Program as an Employment Assistance Specialist. He transferred to the Navajo Reservation in Shiprock and worked in Farmington and Crownpoint. In 1974, Janis and his family returned to the Pine Ridge Reservation. He continued to work for the BIA and retired in 1991. He also worked for the Oglala Sioux Tribe and served on the Tribal Council as Representative for the Pine Ridge Village. Janis was instrumental in the establishment of the “Quad Squad” which proved services for quadriplegics. He was a member of the Holy Cross Episcopal Church in Pine Ridge since 1957.

Survivors include his wife, Anita “Penny” Janis of Pine Ridge; children, Arlin Janis of Pine Ridge, Deb Cordier of Pine Ridge, W. Rodney Janis of Kyle, S.D., KayAnn Janis of Pine Ridge, Ross Janis of Batesland, S.D.; sisters, Lenora Watter of Pine Ridge, Aqualynne Garnett of Kyle, S.D; 16 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren.

Joe Martinez

GALLUP — Funeral Mass for Joe John Martinez, 57, will be 10 a.m., Saturday, May 21, at St. Francis Catholic Church. The Rev. Patrick Shaffer, OFM will be the celebrant. Private burial will be at a later date in Las Vegas.

Martinez died May 16, 2011, in Albuquerque. He was born Sept. 20, 1957, in Roswell.

Martinez was a master barber for 35 years. He was employed at Pro-Cuts North at the time of his death. He was a 2nd degree black belt in karate. Martinez was also an instructor for the Police Academy at the UNM-Gallup branch.

Survivors include his wife, Kathryn Perez-Martinez of Gallup; son, David Martinez of Gallup; step-son, Jason Gutierrez of Albuquerque; daughters, Christina Salazar of Gallup, Amanda Martinez of Albuquerque; step-daughters, Rhinnon Gutierrez of Belen, Marisa Martinez of Albuquerque, Ariel Gonzales, Brittany Gonzales of Las Cruces; mother, Aurelia Martinez of Henderson, Nev.; brother, Ron Martinez of Henderson, Nev.; sisters, Juanita Jones of Ruidoso, Stella Vinson of Gallup; 10 grandchildren.

Martinez was preceded in death by his father, Jose O. Martinez; sister, Delia Martinez.
Pallbearers will be, Mark Spitz, Joe Swoboda, Alan Salazar, Gary Hill, Glen Wright, Steve Lawrence, Dale Dedrick, Johnny Mullins, Howard Estrada, Tom Cruce, Junior Olguin, Mike Chavez, Johnny Gonzales.

Go to www.compassionmortuary.com to sign online guest book.

Compassion Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Terry Sanford Sr.

SHIPROCK — Funeral services for Terry Glenn Sanford Sr., 58, will be 10 a.m., May 20, at Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Stake Center, Kirtland. President Bill Young will officiate. Private burial will be at a later date.

Sanford died May 17, 2011, in Farmington. He was born Sept. 12, 1952, in Sentinnel, Okla.
Sanford was a supervisor for Frontier Communications Co. for the past 30 years. He lived and loved being among the Navajo People the past 38 years. His loving heart brought smiles to all those who came in contact with him. He was always willing to help the youth, elderly and community. Sanford was a supporter of the Shiprock 4-H Club for the past 25 years. He enjoyed purchasing 4-H lambs yearly at the Shiprock Fair on behalf of Manning’s Pawn, Shiprock KFC, Shiprock Foutz Trading Co. and Shiprock That’s A Burger. He will be missed.

Survivors include his wife, Angie Sanford; sons, Corey Sanford of Shiprock, Terry Sanford Jr., Naschitti; daughter, Saprina Crosthwait of Purcell, Okla.; mother, Alice Holland of Mission, Texas; brother, Travis Sanford of Houston, Texas; sister, Kathy Kuhn of Purcell, Okla.; sister, Paula Obyerbeis of Monhans, Texas; six grandchildren.

Sanford was preceded in death by his son, Bill G. Sanford; father, Glen Sanford; grandmother, Pauline Tatum.