Benjamin ''Klum Klum" James Gonzales Obituary (1972

Benjamin James Gonzales, “Klum-Klum” was called home on Monday, December 9th, 2024. Ben was the husband/companion and best friend of Korina Kelly Polk-Gonzales. They shared seventeen years together. Ben was born in Yakima, WA. He was a self-taught visionary who lived a self-sufficient lifestyle, with a deep love for the mountains, harvesting a variety of foods, and an avid passion for hunting. Throughout his career, he worked across a range of industries, including construction, logging, flagging, and general labor. Ben was deeply spiritual, believing in the forces of good and evil, and made a consistent effort to practice prayer to align himself with his faith. Ben loved being in the mountains, working hard, and was a man dedicated to serving others. Ben will be greatly missed for his constant smile, storytelling, sense of humor/BS’n, positive energy, and his unwavering effort to make things better for everybody. Ben is survived by his wife/companion and best friend Korina Kelly Polk-Gonzales, his children from oldest to youngest; Ben “Lil Ben” Arquette, Echo Gonzales, Alvin Gonzales, Aaron Gonzales, Tate Sapulwit, Gavin James, Anthony Michael, and Felicity Sugar. His younger brother, Corey Gonzales. His grandchildren, Catalina, Elijah, Maximus, Nadria, Liam, and his new grandbaby Dal’mae. Ben was predeceased by his father the late, Bernadino “Bernie” Gonzales-NoRunner, and his mother the late, Jacqueline “Jackie” Rigg-Gonzales, and his older brother the late, Jaque Rigg. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, December 12, 2024, at the Wapato Longhouse at 2:00pm. Following with one seven, break/dinner, and open denominations before overnight services. Ben’s final resting place will be at the Union Gap Cemetery, leaving Wapato Longhouse Thursday morning, December 12, 2024, at 8:00am (with final seven at 7:00am). The family would like to thank the First Responders, for their generous hospitality for our beloved husband/companion and best friend, father, brother, uncle, grandpa, and bro.