Elmer Lester Becker was born at the family farm northeast of Haynes, North Dakota on February 14, 1936 during the coldest weather every recorded. He received his elementary education at the rural Schneider school and graduated from Haynes High School in 1954.

He enlisted in the Army on May 23, 1955 and attended basic training at Camp Chaffee, Arkansas. On August 10, 1955 he married the former Shirley Miller at the Calvary Lutheran Church in Lemmon, South Dakota. The newlyweds moved to Camp Carson, Colorado for a short assignment and then were transferred to Germany for the duration of his enlistment.

When they returned to Lemmon during the summer of 1957, Elmer went to work for his Father-in-law, Louis Miller at a meat processing plant in Lemmon. After the plant burned down, Elmer worked at the Co-op Grocery store in Lemmon. A few years later he went to work for Lynn's Super Value and later Bill's Super Value in Lemmon where he continued to work until 1996.

In 1973 Elmer began working for his Father on the farm and he continued that operation until the family farm was sold in 2000. Elmer Becker passed away at the Rapid City Regional Hospital in Rapid City, SD on July 25, 2005.

Grateful for having shared his life are his daughter, Carla (Chad) Johnson, of Rapid City; two sons, Dale (Dorothy) Becker, Hettinger, ND and Darwin (Pam) Becker, Dickinson, ND; seven grandchildren; one great grandchild; one brother, Donald Becker of Fredericksburg, TX; twin sister, Elaine Tomovick, Vallejo, CA and younger sister, Debbie (Mario) Paolucci, Thornton, CO; two aunts, numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and friends. Preceding Elmer in death were his parents, August and Marie Becker; his wife, Shirley Becker and one brother, Dennis Becker.