George Becker
d. September 7, 2016
On February 23, 1924 George Becker was born on the family farm south of Clara City, MN to parents, Albert and Hielke Becker, as their seventh child. With two older siblings who died before George was born, he grew up as the fifth of eight children. Never a healthy child, he had multiple ear infections, although never diagnosed nor treated. This caused considerable hearing loss and affected him throughout his life. He attended school through eighth grade until his father kept him home to work on the family farm.
As a result of his hearing deficiency, he was not eligible to enlist in the military for World War II. Instead he stayed at home and helped with the family farm as well as being hired out to nearby farmers to further support his parents. He took on numerous odd jobs and farming chores throughout the years. In 1950, he was hospitalized for a burst appendix and stayed in the hospital over six weeks when he contracted pneumonia. Upon his recovery, he began driving semi-trucks for Fritz Trucking, hauling livestock and merchandise to and from the Twin Cities.
In 1957, his life began to change forever. While driving in tandem with another semi to the Twin Cities, the other semi in front of him suddenly stopped on the side of the highway. When George pulled over and went to see what was happening, he found the other driver slumped over the steering wheel dead of a heart attack. The other driver was Stanley Rhode, husband to Marian Rhode and father of two children and one on the way. After a proper mourning period, George began to court Marian in 1959 and they married in November, 1960. George would be the stepfather to Marian’s three children, Bob, Russell, and Ruth and he always considered them to be his own. In September, 1962, Scott was born. George had a full family and was loyal and kind to them, while setting an example of an honest, church-going man who was generally patient and loving.
Hard-working and a bit entrepreneurial, George struck out on his own in 1965 when he began his own trucking firm, Becker Truck Lines. He hauled mostly livestock to South St. Paul and freight back to Clara City for local businesses. With Marian as a teacher and George as a trucker, they raised their children to all be college-educated, contributing members of society.
In 1982 he sold the final truck of his business and became employed by his successor, Marvin Timmons. In 1986, he retired, but took odd jobs where he could. As empty nesters, George and Marian traveled often to see different parts of the United States, journeying to Alaska, California, Utah, and Missouri. In addition, they visited relatives often. In time they were grandparents to eleven grandchildren. Always gentle and easygoing, he enjoyed his time spent with them.
Over the ensuing years, he supported Marian and cared for her in her later years until her death in 2008. Since her passing, George resided at the Clara City Assisted Living Center until 2013, and the Clara City Care Center until his passing.
As a way of keeping up with his children, George began writing letters at a prodigious rate, particularly for someone of his education level. Writing numerous letters, sometimes as many as 10 or 11 per day to a number of people, it is estimated that he perhaps penned and mailed over 3,000 letters in the last years of his life, all by hand as learning to use a computer was still beyond him. This effort was from a man who likely had not written a dozen letters during the first 80 years of his life. It is a remarkable demonstration of effort, desire, and love. He wanted to remain in touch with those important in his life and he worked hard to do so, even though writing certainly did not come naturally to him.
George is survived by three children, Russell Rhode (Kathy), Ruth Bot (Rick), and Scott Becker (Susan), 11 grandchildren, Sam, Ben, Jon, Erin, Anne, Corinne, Carolyn, Carmen, Colleen, Dana, and Cameron, as well as one sister, Cora.
George was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; son Bob Rhode; brothers: Herman, Fred & Vernon and sisters: Martha, Jeanette and Emma.
Memorials may be made to the donor’s choice or to the Immanuel Lutheran Church.
As a result of his hearing deficiency, he was not eligible to enlist in the military for World War II. Instead he stayed at home and helped with the family farm as well as being hired out to nearby farmers to further support his parents. He took on numerous odd jobs and farming chores throughout the years. In 1950, he was hospitalized for a burst appendix and stayed in the hospital over six weeks when he contracted pneumonia. Upon his recovery, he began driving semi-trucks for Fritz Trucking, hauling livestock and merchandise to and from the Twin Cities.
In 1957, his life began to change forever. While driving in tandem with another semi to the Twin Cities, the other semi in front of him suddenly stopped on the side of the highway. When George pulled over and went to see what was happening, he found the other driver slumped over the steering wheel dead of a heart attack. The other driver was Stanley Rhode, husband to Marian Rhode and father of two children and one on the way. After a proper mourning period, George began to court Marian in 1959 and they married in November, 1960. George would be the stepfather to Marian’s three children, Bob, Russell, and Ruth and he always considered them to be his own. In September, 1962, Scott was born. George had a full family and was loyal and kind to them, while setting an example of an honest, church-going man who was generally patient and loving.
Hard-working and a bit entrepreneurial, George struck out on his own in 1965 when he began his own trucking firm, Becker Truck Lines. He hauled mostly livestock to South St. Paul and freight back to Clara City for local businesses. With Marian as a teacher and George as a trucker, they raised their children to all be college-educated, contributing members of society.
In 1982 he sold the final truck of his business and became employed by his successor, Marvin Timmons. In 1986, he retired, but took odd jobs where he could. As empty nesters, George and Marian traveled often to see different parts of the United States, journeying to Alaska, California, Utah, and Missouri. In addition, they visited relatives often. In time they were grandparents to eleven grandchildren. Always gentle and easygoing, he enjoyed his time spent with them.
Over the ensuing years, he supported Marian and cared for her in her later years until her death in 2008. Since her passing, George resided at the Clara City Assisted Living Center until 2013, and the Clara City Care Center until his passing.
As a way of keeping up with his children, George began writing letters at a prodigious rate, particularly for someone of his education level. Writing numerous letters, sometimes as many as 10 or 11 per day to a number of people, it is estimated that he perhaps penned and mailed over 3,000 letters in the last years of his life, all by hand as learning to use a computer was still beyond him. This effort was from a man who likely had not written a dozen letters during the first 80 years of his life. It is a remarkable demonstration of effort, desire, and love. He wanted to remain in touch with those important in his life and he worked hard to do so, even though writing certainly did not come naturally to him.
George is survived by three children, Russell Rhode (Kathy), Ruth Bot (Rick), and Scott Becker (Susan), 11 grandchildren, Sam, Ben, Jon, Erin, Anne, Corinne, Carolyn, Carmen, Colleen, Dana, and Cameron, as well as one sister, Cora.
George was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; son Bob Rhode; brothers: Herman, Fred & Vernon and sisters: Martha, Jeanette and Emma.
Memorials may be made to the donor’s choice or to the Immanuel Lutheran Church.
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