Art BECKER

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BECKER: It is with great sadness that we, the family of Art Becker, announce his passing on March 8, 2017, at the Carberry Personal Care Home with family by his side. He was 98 years old and he died as he had lived, with dignity and little fuss or bother to others. Dad was born December 30, 1918, to parents William Becker and Pearl McQuarrie in the Ingelow district and received his schooling there. His stories of that time were entertaining, frequently humorous, and always factual. Dad enlisted in the Canadian Army in 1942 and served during the Second World War until 1946. He was never sent overseas, apparently because he was valued as a trainer for Army transport drivers. On October 2, 1943, Dad married Velma Lorraine Mitchell of Douglas, Manitoba. Because he knew she liked to hear it, he always called her “Toots”, a childhood nickname given to her by her mother’s Scottish brothers. Dad and Mom raised four children: Tom, born in 1948, Craig, born in 1951, Wayne, born in 1953, and Trina, born in 1960. The family lived in Douglas until 1956 when they bought the BA Service Station from Dad’s parents. Dad worked for the CPR for 18 years and then took a job with Simplot Fertilizer in Brandon. He worked in maintenance there for 17 years until his retirement in 1983. His talent for fixing mechanical items was put to good use, as well as his patience in helping new employees learn the job. During retirement Dad and Mom enjoyed many trips, some by tour bus and some with their travel trailer. They especially enjoyed trips to the Yukon, the Grand Ole Opry, and the East Coast. Dad also enjoyed camping in his trailer and frequently went to many local campgrounds where he made many new friends and enjoyed nature, including picking seasonal fruits for Mom to turn into jams, jellies, and pies when he got home. Dad and Mom moved to Carberry in 1994 and bought a house with a large yard and a workshop for Dad. He enjoyed landscaping the yard and grew a large garden. His meticulous attention to detail and endless patience became more apparent as he took up numerous hobbies to fill his time. He particularly enjoyed restoring old cars, doing everything from complete mechanical overhauls to bodywork by himself. Dad spent many hours in his workshop crafting furniture and knick knacks. He specialized in creating scale model, horse-drawn farm equipment, most of which had all moving parts working. He also carved the horses and drivers to complete the effect. Dad also did embroidery work in the winter time and gave embroidered pillow cases, table runners and tablecloths to family and friends. Dad kept his mother’s sewing machine in perfect repair and taught himself to make curtains for his trailer. He even sewed zippers in sweaters that Mom knit because she couldn’t sew them in straight enough! Dad was a master of the three R's, reading, repairing, and reminiscing. He became a regular library patron and was still having books delivered to the Care Home. He could repair almost anything and never turned down a job when asked if he could fix something for someone he knew. His memory for dates, people, and facts was incredible and he was telling stories of his youth and time in the Army on the day prior to his passing. Dad is survived by his wife Velma, sons Tom (Karen), Craig (Beverley), and Wayne (Jody), and daughter Trina (Ron) Fisher, 10 grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren and 3 great-great grandchildren. He was predeceased by in infant sister and a stillborn son in 1947. A graveside service was held on Monday, March 13, 2017, with Rev. Peggy Reid officiating, with interment following. Memorial donations can be made to the Carberry Fire Fighters or the Carberry Ambulance Service.

As published in Brandon Sun on Mar 25, 2017