Celebrating 75 years of love and legacy
with Joe and Jane Ben

Robert Bettis
Navajo Times

CHINLE – On Dec. 31, 1949, Joe Ben and Jane Fern Dalton Ben began a marriage that would span 75 years, nine children, 25 grandchildren, and 15 great-grandchildren. Last weekend, the Ben family gathered at the Aneth Chapter House to celebrate this extraordinary milestone, honoring a couple whose love, resilience, and dedication have spread to families and communities across Navajo land and beyond.

Courtesy | Cheryl Sky
The Ben family gathers to honor Joe and Jane’s 75 years of marriage. From their 1949 wedding to today, 9 children, 25 grandchildren, and 15 great-grandchildren carry forward their legacy of faith, and hózhǫ́.

Relatives traveled from as far as California, Wyoming, North Dakota, and New Mexico to be part of the celebration. For Jane’s extended family, it was a reunion as some hadn’t seen each other in decades.

“It was a huge success,” said Olivia Ben, Joe and Jane’s daughter-in-law. “The whole Aneth community came together. The chapter president was there, and we had help making fry bread—everyone pitched in.”

To read the full article, please see the April 10, 2025, edition of the Navajo Times.

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