Charles Peter (Pete) Becker |
| Posted 2010-05-18 by Judy Wight Branson |
| The Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona Friday, May 18, 2007 Charles Peter "Pete" Becker died Sunday at Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane. He was 71. Pete was born May 29, 1935, at Canastota, N.Y., to Michael A. and Sarah E. Sykes Becker. He grew up and attended school there, graduating from high school at Canastota. He attended college at State University of New York at Oswego and then began his teaching career at Canastota. He and his high school sweetheart, Shirley Waldo, were married at Canastota on Feb. 12, 1955. In 1968, they moved to Prescott, Ariz., where Pete went to work for the Forest Service as a firefighter. In 1980, they moved to Moscow, Idaho, where Pete taught first at Lena Whitmore Elementary School and then taught high school at Potlatch. After he retired from teaching, he and Shirley managed the Mountain View Apartments in Moscow, moving to Deary in 1997, and then to Moscow until July of last year when they moved to West Richland. Pete will be remembered for being a kind man with a heart of gold. He was always willing to help people, especially the "underdog." Among his many service activities he was devoted to helping those with mental illness, serving on many boards and committees, and he touched people's lives with his knowledge and understanding. Pete was also involved with church-sponsored activities that helped people who otherwise would be overlooked. He has been a devoted Catholic all of his life, only missing Mass when his health would not permit. As a schoolteacher, he was admired and loved greatly by his students. As an apartment manager, he was respected and well liked. Pete had a charismatic personality and great sense of humor and contagious laugh. He loved nature and his work with the U.S. Forest Service allowed him to be outdoors. He spent countless hours fishing and hunting, loved music and dance and was often caught whistling a catchy tune. Surviving are his wife of 52 years, Shirley, at their home in West Richland; his children, Debby Becker, Lori Robinson, Chuck Becker, Diane Strunk, Mark Becker, Paul Becker, Theresa Owen and Kristy Cowman. He leaves 29 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Also surviving are his siblings, Mike Becker, Nancy Morris, Bob Becker, Sue Spencer and Steve Becker. Pete was preceded in death by a brother, Tim, his parents and a granddaughter, Stephanie Crawford. The funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 19, 2007, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Moscow, Idaho, by Rev. Joseph Schmidt. The family requests memorials be made to St. Vincent de Paul Society or to a charity of choice. Arrangements are under the direction of Short's Funeral Chapel of Moscow, Idaho. Information provided by survivors. |
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