Betty Ann (Benally) Becenti - John

Betty Ann Becenti-John, our beloved mother, passed away peacefully the evening of Monday, May 3, 2010, with her sons at her side. Betty was born June 8, 1930, in the Shiprock area, to Chischilly Benally and Bertha Begay Benally. Betty lived throughout her life in the Four Corners region. She received her bachelor's degree at the University of Cincinnati and a master's degree at Arizona State University. She worked for more than 40 years as an educator in the Bureau of Indian Affairs school system. She began as a teacher at Shiprock and went on to be a teacher supervisor at Many Farms, Ariz., a principal at Holbrook, Ariz., and a teacher at Nenahnezad, where she retired. She served on several committees and school boards in developing the educational systems on the reservation. When her first husband passed away, she became a father and mother to her three sons. She was a beautiful woman and a wonderful mother. Betty was preceded in death by her parents and three brothers, Tom Benally, Thomas Benally and Ernest Benally; and by husband, Edison Becenti Jr. She is survived by her second husband, Arthur John; her sons, Edison Becenti Jr. (Brenda), Milford A. Becenti and Rutherford Becenti (Wetona); sisters, Irene Begay, Eva Benally, Rose Fields (Larry) and Louise Peters; and nieces, nephews and grandchildren. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, May 7, at Brewer, Lee & Larkin Funeral Home, 103 E. Ute St., in Farmington. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 8, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Shiprock, with Bishop Arnold Yazzie presiding and her son Edison Becenti conducting the service. Interment will be at the Shiprock Community Cemetery in Shiprock, NM. Pallbearers are Betty's sons, Edison Becenti Jr., Milford A. Becenti, Rutherford Becenti, Joshua Becenti, Max Benally and Travis Benally. Honorary pallbearers are grandchildren Jessica, Megan and Marcus Beceniti, Christine, Christopher and Christian Becenti, Stanley Begay, Sammy Begay, Walter and Craig Peters, Clay and Larry Fields, Ronald Benally and Pete Stokley. Brewer, Lee & Larkin Funeral Home 103 East Ute Street Farmington, New Mexico 87401 (505) 325-8688