Ben McCollaum, 87, passed away on Monday, February 20, 2012, surrounded by family in their home on Washington Ave, Carlsbad, NM. Ben McCollaum was born on June 3, 1924 to John Joe and Opal (Green) McCollaum. He grew up on the McCollaum ranch in the Guadalupe Mountains at Queen Rt., Carlsbad, NM. Ben went to school for grades 1 - 8 at the Wright Place (down the road from their home). Ben graduated from Carlsbad High School. In Carlsbad, NM on October 18, 1948, Ben married Betty Bruhl, the forest ranger's daughter. They helped his father work the ranch and worked for the forest service on the lookout and as firefighters. In 1958, Ben and Betty moved to town so their children could go to school in Carlsbad. Ben got a job as a mechanic at IMC and continued helping with the ranch on his days off. Later, he worked at Duval and Western Ag Mineral. When Ben retired from the mines, he worked on the ranch with his partners (his son and his brother, Kenneth). Ben was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Betty Bruhl McCollaum; his parents and older brother, Lowell McCollaum. Ben is survived by his daughter, Susan McCollaum of Carlsbad, NM; son, Ben McCollaum, Jr. and his wife, Sherry of Carlsbad, NM; daughter, Mary Ola Barrett and her husband, Robert of Ada, Oklahoma; grandson, Joseph Barrett and his wife, Katy of Mansfield, TX; grandson, John Barrett of Mansfield, TX; sister, Ola Stratton of Rio Rancho, NM; brother and sister-in-law, Kenneth and Pat McCollaum of Queen Rt., Carlsbad, NM; sister-in-law, Joyce McCollaum of Roswell, NM and nieces, nephews and friends. Visitation will be on Friday, February 24, 2012 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Denton-Wood Funeral Home Chapel. A Funeral service is scheduled for Saturday, February 25, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. at Denton-Wood Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Rusty Smith officiating. Interment will be Saturday, February 25, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. in Queen Cemetery, Queen, NM. Pallbearers will be Joseph Barrett, John Barrett, Gerry Stratton, Johnny Allen, Salty Hughes and Daniel Campbell. Honorary pallbearers will be Danny Colwell, Marion Hughes, A G McGonagill, Laurie Kincaid, Tommy Lawson, Dean McCollaum and Jimmy Bruhl.