Mary Helen Becker, 89, of Seneca, KS, died on Tuesday, October 5, 2010 in Seneca. She was a resident of the Life Care Center in Seneca since March 2008.
Mary Helen was born on February 3, 1921 to Paula (Krapp) and August Boeding in Seneca. She was a graduate of Sts. Peter & Paul High School in Seneca in 1939. She moved to Dayton, OH in 1942, where she worked at Wright-Patterson Field in the British Liaison Office during World War II. She returned to Seneca in 1945.
Mary Helen married Ralph A. Becker of Seneca on May 31, 1948 at Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Seneca. They moved to Kansas City, MO and had their first child. In 1950 they moved to Sedalia, MO, where their six other children were born. The family relocated to Clinton, IL in 1962 where Mary Helen raised her family and lived until her return to Seneca in 2008.
Throughout her marriage, Mary Helen was primarily a homemaker. She began working in 1971 at the state hospital in Lincoln, IL until her retirement in 1982. She was a technician providing care to residents with developmental disabilities. Throughout her residency in Illinois, Mary Helen volunteered her time and talent to helping others. She served as chairman of the Red Cross in DeWitt County and organized local blood drives for many years. She received recognition for 40 years of service prior to her return to Kansas in 2008. She also served on the Altar and Rosary Society of Saint John's parish in Clinton. For the last several years of her time in Illinois, she coordinated the funeral dinners for families of parish members who had passed away.
She was an avid card player. Her passion was the game of bridge. She played often and actually taught bridge at Richland College. She also organized card parties throughout the parish and taught the game to many in Clinton.
Mary Helen is survived by her children, Bruce Becker, of New York City; Larry Becker (Julie) of Champaign, IL; Philip Becker (Margaret) of Atlanta, GA; Paula Becker Wheeler (Scott) of Schererville, IN; Richard Becker (Bridget) of Clinton, IL and Julie Becker O'Brien (Michael) of Colorado Springs, CO. She is also survived by her brothers, Mark Boeding of Indianapolis, IN and John Boeding of Angels Camp, CA. She was the proud grandmother of seven grandchildren, Cassidy, Kathryn, Claire, Leah, Sterling, Jodi and Conor, and great grandmother of Jocelyn, Joseph, Steven and Jayda.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Ralph in 1982; her daughter Barbie in 1978; her father August in 1948; her mother Paula in 1970; brothers Norbert ("Nub") in 1994, Marcellus ("Sally") in 1976, Fritz in 2008, Paul in 1944, Edgar ("Rusty") in 1993, Victor in 2007, Robert in 2003; and her sister, Sister Damien Boeding in 2002.
Mass of Christian burial will be offered at 9 AM Saturday, October 9, at Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Seneca, KS, officiated by Father Arul Carasala. Burial will be in the church cemetery.