Benito "Ben" Valenzuela was born on August 20, 1943 in San Antonio, TX to Margarito and Juanita Valenzuela. He is the oldest of five children. Ben felt a sense of duty and wanted to serve his country. In 1963 he enlisted in the Army and earned the rank of Sergeant, E5. When Ben returned home in 1967, he worked alongside his father and brothers for many years. He later became the owner of B&M Septic Systems. Ben went on a blind date and met his soulmate. He fell in love with her beautiful smile and long black hair. Ben married Emma in 1968. They spent 50 wonderful years together full of love and laughter. Ben was a kind, hardworking, honorable man who did business with the shake of a hand. He took great pride in his work, but nothing made him prouder than his family. His world revolved around his wife and children and then later his grandchildren. Ben loved his family deeply and it was evident in everything that he did. There are not enough words to summarize all that he was and all that he meant to his family. He will be greatly missed.

Ben is preceded in death by his parents, his wife Emma (2018) and his brother Gene (2019). He is survived by his three children Jake (Julie), Diana (Gabriel), and Laura (Alex); his six grandchildren Katie, Maddie, Quentin, Benjamin, Ally, and Ellie; and siblings Margaret, Paul, Phil, and Steve.