Nuestro padre Benjamin, quería una vida mejor para su familia, y ahora comprendemos que esa vida, la vida
mejor, siempre la teníamos, porque el supo como mantener a su grande familia muy bien unida, hasta el dia de hoy.
Le damos muchas gracias y también le agradecemos, por habernos dado esa oportunidad.

Lo recordamos como un padre trabajador que le encantaba las risas de sus hijos. Nuestra hermana Leticia s e
acuerda cuando el Ilegaba de el trabajo ya cansado. Se sentaba en una silla a descansar, mientras mandaba a
unos de sus hijos a comprar un refresco “fiado” para hacerse su "chango”. Se tomaba su "chango" y Leti to veia
con alegria y esperaba a que nos montara en sus piernas, para que nos saltara como en un caballo, y cantar su
cancion "tengele, tengele, tengele tengele”. Esa fue su cancion que todos recordamos. Como nos alegrabamos
al verlo y oirlo cantar su cancion, Cada nietecito nuevo que tenia, lo bailaba con mucho carino. Cantarle su
cancion a cada nieto, era como un rito de paso para ese nieto, era como si no fueran un Madrigal, hasta que los
bailaba y cantaba su cancion.
Nuestro papa Benjamin, apreciaba loa pequenos lujos, como una buena tejana, o alguno de sus cintos que
fueron regalos de amigos o de familia. Nadie lucia mejor su tejana como el. Es imposible recordarlo, sin
pensar, o imaginarlo, sin su tejana Stetson y su cinto piteado. Le encantaba escuchar su música, y grabar sus
canciones favoritas.
Recordamos sus historias de su juventud, de trabajar en en los campos con su padre y hermanos, de su vida
con sus padres, abuelos, hermanos, hermanas, tios y primos. De la vida en Teocuitatlan, en un pueblo donde
casi todos tenian sobrenombres. Platicaba historias de la vida con sus padres, su tio Ramon, sus hermanos y
hermanas. Nunca hablaba de rencores o peleas, si es que los tuvo, nunca los mencionaba . Esas historias,
nombres y sobrenombres, nunca se le olvidaron ni en sus Ultimos dias. Sus Ultimos meses, cuando estaba en su
cama, me imagino que recordaba esos tiempos ya pasados. El frecuentemente hablaba por telefono con sus
hermanos, Alfonso y Roberto, y también con sus hermanas Fidela y Esther, recordando esos dias.


Nuestro querido Padre Benjamin Madrigal Basulto, nacio en San Juan Citala, Jalisco, el cuatro de Septiembre de
1932. Fue uno, de ocho hijos, de Panfilo Madrigal Y Nicolasa Basulto, hermano de Jesus, Juventino, Ana, Olivia,
Fidela, Roberto y Esther.Su familia se traslado a vivir a el pueblo de Teocuitatlan de Corona, Jalisco, donde ahí,
conocio, y se caso con nuestra querida madre, Maria de Jesus. En Teocuitatlan, nacieron ocho de sus nueve hijos,
Estela, Benjamin, Leticia, Humberto, Hilda, Hector, Miguel y Fernando, con el menor de la familia, Eduardo,
naciendo aquí, en Fresno.
Con una familia grande, un padre tiene que trabajar duro, y nuestro padre no le temia a el trabajo. Era su orgullo
haber trabajado como su papa, tios y hermanos. Desde joven, el venia a trabajar aqui a este país. En varias
ocasiones, subiendo a los trenes de carga, para trabajar en los campos de bracero. Con el tiempo, nuestro papa
decidio traerse a nuestra mama, con los hijos menores, que son Miguel Y Fernando, que siendo los mas
pequenos, era un imposible, el pensar de vivir sin su mama. Tambien se trajeron con ellos a vivir, los hijos
mayores, Estela, Benjamin, y Leticia, para ayudarles a trabajar, y poder guardar suficiente dinero para traerse el
resto de la familia. Esta fue una decisión, y tal vez el mas grande sacrificio que hicieron, porque no pudieron a
traerse a, Humberto, Hilda y Hector. Estos dejándolos en Teocuitatlan, a vivir con el amor y cuidado de nuestra
abuelita Pachita, mama de nuestra mama, hasta poder aseguar como vivir con toda su familia junta, aquí en Los
Estados Unidos. Fue un gran sacrificio para ellos, y también para los niños que dejaron atrás, que extrañaban
muchos a sus papas, pero nuestro papa Benjamin, no descanso, hasta tener y vivir con el, bajo el mismo techo,
toda su grande familia.


As an adult I can understand, respect, appreciate the sacrifices he went through in his life as a Mexican immigrant to want and provide a better life for his family. But growing up as his granddaughter my grandpa to me was a different man. He was my grandpa who was the happiest when he was around his family. Always giving out an “ALL RIGHT” shout with his arm raised in the air when he heard any kind of good news. And even though there was a language barrier I never doubted the love that my grandpa felt for me, or as I became a mother for my children. 

My grandpa was a man of pride. Always taking pride in not only his family but how he looked, taking FOREVER to get ready. whether it was tending to his garden, going out with friends, going to church, or just relaxing outside with a beer in his hand, you could count that you would see him in slacks and a dress shirt. 

Days before he passed I FaceTimed my mom and was able to see my grandpa too. During this video chat he saw my kids and instantly began “tingeré tingeré,” I could just picture my kids on his knee as he did with all of his grandchildren. 

Growing up, always being at my grandparents house around my cousins are some of the best moments in my life and I feel blessed to have them. 

My grandpa although he had a hard life he also had a fulfilled life. With my grandma, their 9 children, 21 grandchildren, and 17 great-grandchildren. My grandparents are the roots of this family and for that they live in all of us, and we will carry their memories with us always. May he Rest In Peace. 

Though I wasn’t very close to grandpa or have very many stories to tell, I’ll always have a place for him in my heart. 
Growing up he was always at family gatherings, birthday parties, and other celebrations. I would see him having fun and enjoying the time with all of us. I would go up to him to give him a hug and to say hello. In response he would start talking in this voice that I could never seem to understand, so I would just smile and nod. The other times I would see him was when I would go with my dad to either pick up grandpa to take him to eat or bring him some food. He always seemed to enjoy seeing my dad, sister and I. This made up the majority of my relationship with him, but there was another side of grandpa that I always respected; his worth ethic and what he did for our family. I remember having to do this immigration project in 5th grade which required me to ask about my family. I went up to my dad to ask some questions, and he told me about how our family immigrated to Fresno, that grandpa would take the freight train from Mexico to the U.S for work sometimes, and how in order to make money the family would work in the fields. Before that time I didn’t know much about what life was like growing up for them, but after that moment it was always in my mind when I saw grandpa how hard he worked to support his family. I will always love and respect him for that, rest in peace grandpa. 


Even though it has been nearly a week since Grandpa passed away, I still have a hard time accepting that he's really gone. I have his phone number memorized by heart, and I can't bring myself to delete his contact from my phone. I can't help but think that if I dial the number, he'd pick up for sure.

I am extremely thankful to carry memories of Grandpa for the rest of my life. I know people who never knew their grandparents, or even had the chance to meet them. I remember my Grandpa picking me up from kindergarten, giving us money for ice cream, and always happy to see us. 

I know he loved his family, and he will be deeply missed by everyone. May he live on in our hearts as we continue through life. Rest in peace, Grandpa <3


I've never met anyone who's done even half as much for the betterment of his family as my grandpa did. Every one of his kids, grandkids, and even great-grandkids have a better life and more opportunities as a direct result of the hard work and sacrifices he made during his life. In old age, he was a happy man who loved to laugh, hear about my life, and give encouragement and advice in any way he could. It was a pleasure to hear anything he would tell me about his youth, life experiences, and perspective as an immigrant. I truly learned a lot from his example. My grandpa was an amazing man who lived and experienced two very different worlds, but who never lost his pride or sense of who he was as a person. I'll never forget him, and he'll always be someone who I have the utmost respect and admiration for. Rest in peace grandpa. You earned it. 

Visitation

Funeral Mass

Benjamin is survived byhis children;Benjamin Madrigal Jr., Humberto, Hector, Miguel, Fernando, Eduardo and Estela Madrigal Hernandez, Leticia Mata and Hilda Siemer.


He was preceded in death by his wife Maria De Jesus Fernandez de Madrigal.

OBITUARY

Benjamin Basulto Madrigal

September 4, 1932 – August 20, 2021

Palm La Paz Funerals & Cremations

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