BENJAMIN NIETO

Dodge City - Benjamin Nieto, 87, passed away on April 24, 2012 at Hodgeman County Longterm Care Center, Jetmore. He was born on March 31, 1925 in Laredo, Texas, the son of Anacleto and Isidra Nieto.

Benjamin served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He married Barbara Jean Lawson on August 27, 1955 in Red Lodge, Montana. They later divorced. As a child, he worked on his father's dairy farm. He then went to work for Ace Hi Drilling Company. Ben also worked as a uranium miner, a migrant field worker, and at High Plains Beef.

He attended Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Dodge City.

Benjamin is survived by six sons, Benjamin Nieto, Jr., Freddie Nieto, David Nieto, Stephen Nieto, Brandon Nieto, and Justin White; five daughters, Kathy Koechner, Patricia Morales, Rosemarie Nieto, Lisa Gutierrez, and Amy Martinez; two sisters, Victoria Rodriguez and Juanita George; 17 grandchildren; and 24 great grandchildren. He is preceded in death by one daughter, Barbara Jean Marie Nieto; one son, Brian Nieto; and several brothers and sisters.

Memorial service will be held at the Kansas Veterans' Cemetery on Friday, April 27, 2012 at 2:00 PM with Rev. Ted Skalsky presiding. Military honors will be provided by Howard Gottschall Post #1417 V.F.W. There will be no visitation as cremation has taken place. Memorials are suggested to Sacred Heart School Endowment Fund in care of the funeral home. Thoughts and memories may be shared in the online guest book at www.swaimfuneralhome.com.