Walter J. Becker
The family of Walter J. Becker is saddened to announce his passing and will try to recap “a life well lived.”
Walter John Becker was born at his farm home near Eatonia, SK, on August 26, 1923. His parents were Jacob and Caroline Becker, and Walter was the fourth oldest of fourteen children.
Walter lived and thrived through the Dirty Thirties. He helped his father with the farming, went to school (and yes he did walk from the farm) and enjoyed the Saturday socializing that was the norm in those days.
Music was very prevalent in their lives singing, playing instruments, and dancing were ever-popular pastimes. Walter always said he learned to dance (before walking) by standing on his mother’s feet as she swayed around the kitchen.
And Walt loved to dance! That is the one thing he reminisced about the most. Every woman he saw, he said, “I danced with her”!
At age 11 (1934), Walt had a ruptured appendix and spent a year in the hospital as it was pre-penicillin days. He could see his farmhouse from his hospital window, and on Good Friday, he watched as the family house burned to the ground from an accidental fire. Walter’s mother and a few of the younger siblings were home that day. She managed to get the children out, a bit of the bedding and her sewing machine.
The family then moved into two granaries until their house was replaced. Walt went to a rural school called Root School, a one-room schoolhouse, and then attended classes in Eatonia.
Walt was 16 when World War II broke out. He enlisted from 1943-1946. He was a duty driver and operated heavy equipment building roads. He was stationed at several places in BC, Sask., Ontario and Manitoba. He was part of the Polar Bear Expedition, taking commando training for Japanese warfare in Bella Coola, BC.
After the war, Walt moved back to farm with his father and worked on road construction with RA Kenny Construction. He also helped build the Cold Lake, Alberta Air Force runways.
When Walt wasn’t busy building roads, helping on the farm or duties around the house, Saturday nights were filled with dances around the area. This is where he met his future wife Audrey Lewis, at a dance in Glidden. They courted for four years till he proved himself to Audrey’s five brothers and mother and father Georgina and Nelson Lewis. They were married on July 7, 1949. The marriage took place at St. Paul’s United Church. They dined at the Seymour Hotel and danced the night away at Turvin School. The marriage was blessed for 71 and a half years before Audrey passed away in March 2021.
Walt and Audrey moved to Laporte in 1949, where Walt continued to work for RA Kenny Construction, building Highway #30 and #44, and he worked for the RM of Laporte. They lived for a period of time at the pump house north of Eatonia as Walt looked after the water flow for CN Rails for the steam engines. He also bought grain for a few years for Pioneer Grain in Eatonia.
Walt was always busy with sports; he loved all of them. He was a master pool player from a very young age; he umpired ball games and refereed hockey. He played fastball well into his 40s. Then he was on the Kindersley Klippers executive, Kindersley Royals, and coached girls fastball.
Family life began with Wendy’s birth in 1951 and Rick in 1954. Walter immersed himself in all sports activities they were involved with through the years.
In 1958, they moved to Kindersley, and Walt worked in construction for the school unit building schools. In 1960, he started work for Halpenny Agencies (the local Case dealership) as a parts man.
Walt and Audrey decided to buy some farmland, and in 1973, he was farming full-time. He harvested with his brother-in-law Jim Webster until Rick joined him on the farm. He also worked with Jackson’s Sales and Service part-time as he farmed.
Walt farmed into his 80s (he said he did the easy jobs) until a stroke made it too difficult.
Walt and Audrey enjoyed extensive travel throughout North America and to Europe twice to visit Wendy and family, who were stationed at Lahr, Germany. They enjoyed a trip to Alaska with good friends Charles and Anne Heise.
They also enjoyed the company of many good friends from Kindersley, especially close neighbours Fred and Muriel Wake.
Winter became a special time as they headed to Mesa, Arizona, for three months every year for over 30 years. They loved golfing, hiking, touring and visiting with friends.
Walt said in his memoirs that he has many good memories, and his proudest accomplishment was having a nice family!
He was a proud member of the Elks, Lions, Legion, United Church Board and United Church Choir.
Walt loved life at Caleb and wished to live out his life there, but a move was necessitated in February of this year to Heritage Manor.
His 100th birthday was a special celebration, and he was honoured to see so many people come out to wish him Happy Birthday. It was a major highlight for him.
He was a lifetime Dodgers and Maple Leafs fan. Walt always said, “what a good life I have had”! And with that, Walt decided to rejoin his favourite dance partner on September 13, 2023.
Walter was predeceased by his parents, his dear wife Audrey, father and mother-in-law Georgina and Nelson Lewis, brothers Len, Ed, Al, Vern, George, and baby Becker and his sisters Alma, Tillie, Alice and Leona. Sisters and brothers-in-law Pearl, Doreen, Anita, Reinhard, Mickey, Bud, Jean, Marlene, Raymond and Jack. He was also predeceased by all of Audrey’s brothers Forbes, William, Douglas, Gordon and James Webster and Audrey’s sisters-in-law Bea, Phyllis, Dorothy, Louise and Ruth.
He is survived by daughter Wendy Richardson and son-in-law Jim Ball, son Rick Becker (Linda), grandchildren Deborah Richardson Goulais, (Bob Goulais), Scott Richardson (Candice Metallic), Robbie Richardson (Francesca Walker), Dean Becker (Candice), Sean Becker (Lana Benjaminson), Alison Becker (Mat LeBlanc), 24 great-grandchildren and brothers Wayne Becker (Mae), Ken Becker, sister Colleen Boychuk and many nieces and nephews.
Funeral service to be held October 5 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Paul’s United Church, with lunch and internment following. Donations can be made, if so desired, to The Heritage Manor Auxiliary or St. Paul’s United Church memorial fund c/o Prairie Rose Flowers 400 Main St., Kindersley. Funeral service will be live-streamed through www.facebook.com/ StPaulsKindersley