On May 5, 2013 in Bellevue, WA, Gustav Erwin Becker (age 94 1/2), known all his life as “Ike”, passed from this mortal life to return to his Heavenly Father and his Savior Jesus Christ, and to reunite with his family and friends. He was born to Gustav Bernard Becker and Gertrude Slaugh Becker in Aberdeen, ID, on Oct. 3, 1918.
Ike’s early years were spent in Aberdeen where he farmed beginning in the days of his youth. At age 32, he moved to the Columbia Basin area in central Washington to commence a career as Water Master with the Bureau of Reclamation. Upon his retirement as Water Master, he began a second career with Safeway Foods as a Produce Manager. After that retirement, he engaged in a long career as a master gardener/landscaper until age 90, when he finally succumbed to his official retirement. To say the least, he was a driven and hard working man.
During Ike’s Aberdeen years, music was a big part of his life. During high school years he formed his own band, the Prairie Wranglers, who had their own radio shows and played at school, church dances and events. His Columbia Basin years were marked by dedicated service to the Boy Scouts of America where he shepherded his sons and many other young men to the rank of Eagle Scout and was bestowed the honor of Silver Beaver.
Another hobby through the years was leather working, a hobby which he shared in particular with his son Blake. Ike spent memorable periods of time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, which they remember fondly.
Ike was a tender-hearted, compassionate, but a quiet man; his evidence to this was the assistance he rendered to his quadriplegic neighbor.
Ike is survived by his devoted and eternal companion of 69 years, Hazel Marie (Pierce) Becker, his son Barry Becker (and wife Taffee), Blake Erwin Becker (and wife Mina), nine grandchildren, and 16 great-grandchildren.
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