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Ray Walter Becker, 87 died on April 10, 2023 at St. Luke's Home in Dickinson, ND.

The Memorial Service for Ray will be held at 11:00am MT, on Saturday, April 22, 2023 at the Bethesda United Methodist Church in Elgin with Pastor Allen Finger, officiating.

Ray was born on July 13, 1935 in Bismarck, ND to Walter and Gertruth (Hafner) Becker, of rural Heil, ND.  Ray grew up on the Hafner/Becker farm homesteaded by his grandfather Christ Hafner, where he lived with his parents and twin brother Roy.  He attended schools in Heil and Elgin, ND, graduating from High School in 1953.

He attended Westmar College in La Mars, Iowa where he earned his bachelor's degree in biology.  While in college, he met Joyce Knickman, a young and beautiful Iowa farm girl.  Ray and Joyce were married on August 24 ^th , 1958, in Council Bluffs, Iowa.  Ray taught high school science in New Sharon, Iowa for one year before the call of the North Dakota land could no longer be ignored.  Other than the five years spent in college and teaching in Iowa, Ray lived his entire life in Southwest North Dakota.

Ray and Joyce made their home on the Hafner/Becker farm.  Ray farmed with his father and brother until the sudden death of his father in the fall of 1960.  Roy also left farming to teach science.

Ray and Joyce started their family with the birth of their daughter, Tammy in 1960, followed by another daughter, Traci and son Tim over the next few years.  Ray taught high school science part time in Elgin, ND in the mid-1960's, while farming full time.  Ray ran a herd of mixed Herefords and Angus cattle, as well as farming mostly red spring wheat, along with oats, barley, sunflowers, hay, and corn.  In the early 1960's a teenage neighbor, Garry Bellon came to live with Ray and Joyce and their growing family, helping with the farming and chores.  Garry is still considered to be part of the family and a good friend.

Ray was a lifelong member of Bethesda Evangelical United Brethren/ United Methodist Church in Elgin, ND where he taught adult Sunday School classes and was the Lay Leader for many years.  He served on various committees in the Dakotas Conference of the United Methodist Church.  During this time, he made lasting friendships, most notably with Pastor MaryAnn Bernard.

He was elected to the school board of Elgin Public Schools where he served many years including the President of the school board.  In this role, he met many schoolteachers and administrators and formed many close friendships that lasted through the end of his life, especially C.B. (Buck) Haas, Dale (Sylvia) Bader, and Keith (JoAnn) Lutz.

Their family was blessed in 1978 with the birth of their youngest daughter, Tiffany.

Ray retired from farming in 2000 due to health reasons.  He drove a milk truck for a short period of time.

Ray is survived by Joyce, his loving wife of almost 65 years;  His children Tammy and Larry Theurer, Traci and Claude Wagner, Tim and Robin Becker, and Tiffany and Jacob Freshwater; his grandchildren Adam and Kim Becker; Jacob and Katie Becker; Meghann and Jeff Chamberlain; Sara and Tyler Halter; Emily Theurer; Lauren and Kade Paulson; Matthew Becker; Olivia Wagner; Grace Wagner; Abigail Freshwater and Benjamin Freshwater; and his great grandchildren Reinhart, Hewitt and Adalia; Kieva, Kasen and Kenly Ray; Elinor and Thomas; Emmy Jo and Nora; and Zoey;  his nephew Allen (Stacey) Becker; his brothers and sisters in law, John and Katie Knickman, Ruth and Vic Larson and family, and Doreen Becker, as well as cousins and many friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his twin brother.

Cards can be mailed to Joyce Becker/Tim Becker, 683 State Ave Suite F, Dickinson, ND  58601.