Valeria Henrietta Benson Carr Tanaka, beloved mother, grandmother, and community leader, passed away on October 31, 2024, at the age of 100 at Springbrooke Retirement Senior Living in Denver, Colorado. Born on March 10, 1924, Valeria's life spanned a century of change, resilience, and adventure. Known to her friends as Val, she is remembered for her indomitable will and heart, her keen sense of humor, her meticulous attention to detail, and her great beauty. She lived each day as a testament to strength, love, and determination.

Born in Memphis, Tennessee to William and Ada Benson, and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, Valeria grew up during some of the hardest years in American history including The Great Depression and World War II. Encompassing her humanity, she moved through life interacting with everyone—Black, White, young, old, men, and women alike. Valeria even had an uncanny unsolicited attraction from people that permeated her life which elicited the nickname "Queen Val".

Val grew up in a half-square-mile district called The Ville which was a thriving microcosm of St Louis' Black community cultivating Black professionals, doctors, entrepreneurs, educators, and entertainers. She attended Simmons Elementary School and later graduated from Sumner High School in 1941 which was the first high school for Black students west of the Mississippi River. She attended Stowe's teachers' college for two years, and business college for six months.

Throughout her lifetime, Val had a mechanical acumen and was tech savvy until her final days owning several computers, texting family and friends on both her cell phone and watch.

Valeria moved to Vancouver, Washington in 1945, and married Jerome "Jerry" Carr in 1947-1950. There were no children from this union. Valeria then lived in Portland where she met George "Joe" Tanaka. After they had moved for work to St. Louis, they were married August 21, 1950 and together had five children; stepdaughters, Kathy and Nancy, and George Jr. "Buz", Michael, and Joanne. Eventually their work with the Air Force Finance Office moved them to Denver, Colorado in 1951 where they attended People's Presbyterian church and enjoyed camping, golf, fishing, and skiing in their new home.

Val began skiing when on the west coast and appeared in a 1949 issue of Ebony magazine; the article celebrated an emergence of Black skiers in America. Joe and Val continued their love of the sport when they co-founded Denver's Slippers-N-Sliders Ski Club in 1972, one of the first Black ski clubs. In 1973, the Slippers and Sliders Ski Club was the forefront of a gathering of Black ski clubs across the nation. The organization is called the NBS (the National Brotherhood of Snowsports), continues today and has grown to 60+ clubs worldwide.  In 1975, Joe died unexpectedly of a heart attack at the age of 54.

Val continued to ski after her husband's death. She participated in downhill NASTAR slalom races where she won many medals, including two gold medals. She continued her love of skiing when she took her grandchildren up to the hills on weekends. In 2012 Val was featured in PBS's "Ski! A Century of Colorado Skiing". She was featured last March for Women's History month as the centurion founder of the Slippers and Sliders with Channel 7. Her daughter Joanne, with Roxanne Garlington (president of Slippers and Sliders) gave an interview with CPR (Colorado Public Radio) about Val and her love of the sport of skiing and the beginnings of the ski club early this November.

Val had another love - researching her family's genealogy. This led to co-founding The Black Genealogy Search Group of Denver in 1982 and edited their newsletter that won many awards. She began tracing the roots of her family tree and founded a family newsletter "The Cartman Gazette".

Valeria was preceded in death by her beloved husband, George "Joe" Tanaka Sr., and her stepdaughter Kathy Stein. She is survived by her children, George Tanaka Jr. (Athena Peros), Michael Tanaka (Tammi Tanaka), and Joanne Tanaka Cuerden (Randy Cuerden); stepdaughter Nancy Clayton; grandchildren Christopher Tanaka (Melissa Woodvine), Emily Peros McBreen (Scott McBreen), Alexandra Tanaka Cuerden, Anastasia Tanaka Cuerden, Michael Tanaka Jr., Erika Livingston (Anthony Livingston), Marla Meyer (Dana Meyer), Angie Barnett (Wylie Barnett), Aron Clayton; and numerous great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

A small ceremony will be held with her immediate family in Denver this winter. In the spring, a memorial celebration will be held for beloved friends and family and Val will be interred with husband "Joe" at Fort Logan National Cemetery. In her memory, donations to one of her founding organizations are encouraged (below). Valeria's legacy endures through her family, friends, and community, a reminder of a life filled with courage, compassion, and a thirst for discovery.

Donations can be made to Slippers and Sliders Ski Club : Roxanne Garlington, President 303-898-8861 and The Black Genealogy Search Group of Denver : Annie Mabry, 720-278-8926 or amabry9739@aol.com .

Valeria H. Tanaka's memorial service will be held Saturday, April 12, 2025, 10:30 a.m. at Faith Presbyterian Church 11373 E Alameda Ave, Aurora, CO 80012. Remote viewing is available at: FaithPC.org (NOTE: It may have the dates for their Sunday service, however it will play the service on Saturday).