Manuel was born on August 13, 1924, in La Mesa, New Mexico. He passed away on September 7, 2011.
Manuel is survived by his wife, Angelita S. Benavidez; children, Robert Frank Benavidez and his wife Kiyoko, Benjamin S. Benavidez Sr., Betty Jo Benavidez, Maxine Castanon and her husband Jimmy and Lawrence Ray Benavidez and his wife Sandra; 14 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; eight great great-grandchildren; his siblings, Antonia Duran and Ysidro Benavidez.
