Ben Valdez, 75, of Grand Island, died Wednesday, April 10, 2013 at his daughter's home in Greenwood, NE.
Mass of Resurrection will be at 10:30 am Monday at St. Mary's Cathedral. Father Joseph Joseph will officiate. Visitation will be from 4-8 pm Sunday at Livingston-Sondermann Funeral Home with a rosary service at 7 pm. Following visitation Mr. Valdez will be cremated. Burial of ashes will be at a later date.
In lieu of flowers memorials are suggested to the American Cancer Society or St. Jude's Children's Hospital.
Ben was born on March 3, 1938 at Horton, Kansas to Ventura and Thomasa (Contreas) Valdez. He grew up in Grand Island and graduated from St. Mary's High School in 1956.
He entered the United States Army on June 27, 1956 and served as a paratrooper in Lebanon. He was honorably discharged on June 26, 1962.
On April 6, 1960 he was united in marriage to Emily Sanchez at Hastings, Nebraska. The couple made their home and raised their family in Grand Island. Ben worked at Swift and Company (later Monfort's) and McCain Foods until retiring in 2000. He loved to watch football, especially the University of Notre Dame. Most of all he enjoyed spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren.  Ben and Emily recently celebrated their 53rd wedding anniversary.
He was a member of St. Mary's Cathedral.
Ben is survived by his wife Emily of Grand Island; two daughters, Christina (Eric) Hittner of Gretna, Michele (Jose) Aguirre of Greenwood, NE; four sons, Ben Joseph (Julie) Valdez of Las Vegas, NV, Gabriel Valdez of Grand Island, Anthony "Shayne" (Jodie) Valdez of Waverly, NE, and Lance (Melodie) Valdez of Omaha; seven grandchildren, Jessica Valdez, Joe Aguirre, Richelle Valdez, Aubree Valdez, Kyle Hittner, Michaela Hittner and Jaden Valdez; five step grandchildren,  Jada and Joshua Gonzales, Marissa Woolard, and Alex and Dylan Hesselguesser.
He is also survived by three brothers, Ygnacio Valdez of Grand Island, Jesse Valdez of Grand Island and Nato Valdez of Chicago.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Mary Trejo.

Mass of Resurrection will be at 10:30 am Monday at St. Mary's Cathedral. Father Joseph Joseph will officiate. Visitation will be from 4-8 pm Sunday at Livingston-Sondermann Funeral Home with a rosary service at 7 pm. Following visitation Mr. Valdez will be cremated. Burial of ashes will be at a later date.
In lieu of flowers memorials are suggested to the American Cancer Society or St. Jude's Children's Hospital.