Bernice Regina Becker
https://www.plumergobber.com/obituaries/obituary-listings?obId=27911173
October 28, 1928 - May 11, 2023
Bernice Regina (Schandler) Becker passed away on May 11, 2023 at the Andbe Home in Norton, Kansas, at the age of 94. She was born on October 28, 1928, in San Juan, Texas, in the Rio Grande Valley to Bernard and Clara (Grimm) Schandler.
Her parents farmed ten acres of irrigated citrus and vegetables. In 1935 they moved to New Almelo, Kansas, where their children attended the St. Joseph Catholic grade school. Bernice attended the Catholic parochial high schools in Leoville for one year and Tipton for three years.
In Tipton, Henry Becker, a marine returning home from serving duty in the Pacific Islands during WWII, saw Bernice and stated: “I’m going to marry that girl.” He was the love of her life. They were married on August 4, 1948.
To this union 10 children were born: Joyce Wentz (Russ Haring-companion-deceased), Tonganoxie; Henry (Monika Biehl-deceased), Brenken, Germany; Eugene (Deborah Warren), Tonganoxie; Debra Bienhoff (Paul), Kensington; Edna Mader (Dennis), Collyer; Paul (Linda Sansom), Lenora; John (Ann Yiesley-deceased), Lenora; Elaine McCrary (Wayne), Hutchinson; Judy Koelling (Kirk), Russell; Christopher (Gina Young), Manhattan.
After farming several years in Tipton, they purchased an acreage eleven miles south of Norton, Kansas, and moved there with their three children to continue their farming/ranch operation until Henry’s death on June 6, 1985, after 36 years of marriage.
Bernice was a faithful Catholic, loving wife and mother, and dedicated community member. When needed, she assisted Henry with the farm, making trips to the elevator with truckloads of harvested grain, and later drove a school bus route for 14 years.
Her life was full with celebrations: baptisms, confirmations, graduations, and weddings-first for her children and then grandchildren. Henry and Bernice made several trips together before his death. They would go to conventions for their organizations and made several trips to Germany.
After Henry’s death, her daughter Joyce went with her on several tours, including one to the Holy Land in Israel. With a church group she spent two weeks a year for four years to help build a church in Lourdes, Costa Rica. Years of preparing meals for her large family help train her in her most significant and long-lasting volunteer duty – St. Francis of Assisi Parish Funeral Dinner Chairman.
She was an active member of many organizations: Altar Society, Legion of Mary, Salina Diocesan Council of Catholic Women, a local photographer for the Diocesan Catholic paper, 4-H project leader, American Legion Auxiliary, Meals on Wheels, local Republican organization, Farm Bureau Committee, and facilitator for Norton County Prison “Promise Keepers.”
Bernice was preceded in death by her husband Henry Becker; parents Bernard and Clara Schandler; sister Mary Margaret Schandler; sisters and spouses Marge and Jim Hickert, Lorene and Charles Meyer; sister-in-law Patricia Schandler; daughters-in law Monika Becker and Ann Becker; companion Russ Haring; grandson Brian Mader; great-grandson Gabriel Mader.
She is survived by her 10 children and their seven spouses; 34 grandchildren, 52 great-grandchildren, five great-great grandchildren; brothers Eugene Schandler, Logan and Robert Schandler (Pam), Overland Park.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:00 a.m. Thursday, May 18, 2023 at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, Norton. Burial will follow in the Norton Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 3-7:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 17 at the funeral home with family receiving friends from 5-7:00 p.m. A rosary and vigil service will be held at 7:00 p.m.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Bernice and Henry Becker Scholarship Fund or St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church and sent in care of Plumer-Gobber Funeral Home, 215 W. Main St., Norton, KS 67654.
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