Cynthia Benedict

Cynthia (Buttery) Benedict, age 64, a 34-year resident of Albuquerque, passed away peacefully at home on August 11, 2026, surrounded by family, after a valiant but short battle with brain cancer.

She was born in Yreka, California, in 1962, and moved to Colorado early in her childhood, where she came to love the outdoors. During her teenage years she worked several seasons with the Youth Conservation Corps, maintaining federal campgrounds, picnic areas, and trails in Colorado. She spent her leisure time hiking, backpacking, skiing, and snowshoeing with friends and family. She expressed her creativity through writing poetry and journaling, and she was also adept at American Sign Language. For many years she participated in the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Team In Training program, raising money and awareness for cancer research and patient care while training for and completing half-marathon walking events. Anything Disney was always welcome.

Cynthia earned her Bachelor's (1985) and Master's (1987) degrees in Anthropology from Texas Tech University. Shortly thereafter she met Karl Benedict when they started work on the same day as seasonal archaeologists for the U.S. Forest Service. Karl and Cynthia were married in Plymouth, California, in 1992. She spent over 30 years with the U.S. Forest Service as an Archaeologist, Heritage Program Manager, and Tribal Liaison, enjoying every opportunity she had to get out in the field in Wyoming, Arizona, California, New Mexico, Texas, and Oklahoma. In addition to her Heritage Resource duties, Cynthia spent many fire seasons working at the Albuquerque Tanker Base. She finished her career as the Tribal Liaison for the Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands. She earned numerous regional awards and was honored nationally by the Chief of the Forest Service.

Her life revolved around animals of all kinds, especially dogs, and she trained her own dogs in wildland search and rescue, barn hunt, and agility. Cynthia also enjoyed international travel to Central America, Europe, and the Caribbean.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Nancy. She is survived by her husband, Karl, and her father, Robert, of Albuquerque, New Mexico; her brother, Douglas (Susie), of Ridgway, CO; her sister, Carolyn (Rick), of Bozeman, MT; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

A Celebration of Cynthia's Life will be held at FRENCH - Wyoming on September 27 at 10 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to any cancer organization or any organization supporting dog welfare. Please visit the online guestbook for Cynthia at www.FrenchFunerals.com.