Jose Benito Vigil

Jose Benito “Ben” Vigil, 76, of Arvada, Colorado, passed away peacefully on August 19, 2026. He was born on September 14, 1949, in Cleveland, New Mexico, to Max Vigil and Rosana Duran. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Jesusita Vigil.

Ben is survived by his partner, Martha Duran, and his former wife, Erma Jean Pacheco; his siblings, Celestino Duran, Tao Vigil (Antonia Vigil), Angie Vigil, Grace Vigil, and Carlos Vigil; his daughters, Gail Vigil and Jenine Vigil; his eight grandchildren, Syd Yardman, Eledina Yardman, Ozzy Yardman, Venus Minella, Hailey Vigil-Grantham, Rocco Minella, Gino Minella, and Jordan Vigil-Krum; and his five great-grandchildren, Giovanni Yardman, Aria Yardman, Emma Yardman, Lily Yardman, and Azain “Little Benny” Reveles-Yardman.

After graduating from high school in Mora, New Mexico, in 1969, Ben was drafted into the United States Army. He was stationed in Germany, where he worked as an X-ray technician. In 1972, he returned to Cleveland, New Mexico, and married Erma Jean Pacheco. They eventually moved to Denver, where Ben worked in construction and took on whatever work he could find. One of his favorite stories to tell was about helping build the Eisenhower Tunnel. Together, Ben and Erma welcomed their daughters, Gail in 1976 and Jenine in 1982.

Later, Ben began working at Coors Brewing Company with his uncle, Elfedo. He took on many different jobs there, including painting, construction, and labor. Eventually, he became an electrician, a position he held for many years. He retired from the brewery after an impressive 43 years of service. Outside of work, Ben enjoyed spending his weekends working on cars and fixing just about anything that needed his attention.

Ben was a man who could always find something to keep his hands busy. He loved gardening, caring for his yard, and tending to his home. He took pride in being able to repair, build, and maintain things himself. Even later in life, when his health presented challenges, he still found ways to do what he loved—getting on the roof, changing the oil, working around the house, or simply sitting on the porch and watching the day go by.

Family was at the heart of Ben’s life. He and Martha were deeply involved in the lives of their grandchildren and made it a priority to keep the family together. Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners at their home became cherished traditions, along with all the other gatherings, visits, and moments in between. Ben loved having people around and always seemed to have time for a conversation.

He saw his brother Celestino every day and enjoyed talking with neighbors and anyone else who stopped by. He spent his mornings and evenings on the phone with his sisters, friends, and other family members, staying connected to the people he cared about.

Ben will be deeply missed for his conversations, his humor, his generosity, and the way he made people feel welcome. He had a way of leaving an impression on everyone he met. His life was defined not only by the work of his hands, but by the love he gave to his family and the many lives he touched along the way.

He will be remembered, cherished, and missed by so many. To know Ben was to love him.