Donald "Don" Becken, 85, of Hallock, MN passed away on September 1, 2009 while residing at the home of his daughter and son-in-law, Adeline (Ade) and Jim Miller in Tracy, MN.
Donald Olaf Becken was born in Halma, Minnesota the son of Ole and Jessie Becken. He had one brother, Warren and two sisters, Marjorie and Phyllis. He was raised on a farm near Hallock and graduated from Hallock High School. At the time of his death, Don was the last living boy of his high school graduating class. Following his high school graduation, he went on to business school in Fargo, North Dakota and also completed a Watch-making course in Chicago, Illinois.
Don and his brother owned and operated a mink ranch and raised over 1200 mink. He later went on to serve his country in WWII for two years in the United States Army. Don was one of the few soldiers that went overseas on the Queen Mary. Following his military service, Don came back to purchase a retail store in Greenbush, Minnesota. He asked his sweetheart, Vi, to marry him and help run "Becken's". They were married on June 23, 1954. Don and Vi owned "Becken's" for over 20 years while raising 3 children in an apartment above the business.
When Don and Vi decided to retire, they wanted to move closer to Don's father in Hallock, MN. There they built a new home next to his father's house which is where he and Vi resided throughout their retirement. After his move back to Hallock, Don worked for the Hallock school district as a custodian/bus driver.
December of 2008 found Don not being able to live by himself because of his illness. He moved to Tracy, Minnesota to live with his daughter and son-in-law, Ade and Jim Miller. Don's health was failing fast and it wasn't until June of 2009 that he was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig Disease). Don fought a tough painful battle but died peacefully with his daughter at his bedside, knowing he was going to see all his loved ones in heaven soon.
Don loved his wife Vi more than anything on earth. They both loved the outdoors and planted many hundreds of trees. Don lived for deer hunting season when he and his son, grandsons and friends could hunt for the "biggest buck" on his land. Those that knew Don knew that he had a passion for painting. For almost 70 years he painted over 1,300 pieces! Don loved to golf with his good friend, Wilbur Koop, and visit with his very good neighbors, the Myron and Joyce Jans family. He always talked about his coffee times with the "boys" at Cenex and each day he looked forward to going to the Senior Center for a meal, then some card playing, or pool.
Survivors include his daughter Adeline (Jim) Miller of Tracy, MN, his son, Allen (Roxanne) Becken of Owatonna, MN, grandchildren, Heidi (Travis) Sohn, Nicholas, Emily, Molly Miller, Jillian (Ryan) Schiel, Darrick, Dillon and Crystal Becken, Sister-in-law Eleanor Becken of Coon Rapids, MN, sister, Phyllis (Ben) Finazzo of Cold Springs, MN, and sister, Marjorie (Lloyd) Mathews of Otsego, MN. Don was preceded in death by his parents, wife Violena, daughter Donna (Charles) Pugliese, and brother, Warren. May they all rest in peace.
Funeral Services for Donald O. Becken will be Saturday, September 19th at 1:00 p.m. at Grace Lutheran Church in Hallock, MN with lunch served afterwards.
Donald Olaf Becken was born in Halma, Minnesota the son of Ole and Jessie Becken. He had one brother, Warren and two sisters, Marjorie and Phyllis. He was raised on a farm near Hallock and graduated from Hallock High School. At the time of his death, Don was the last living boy of his high school graduating class. Following his high school graduation, he went on to business school in Fargo, North Dakota and also completed a Watch-making course in Chicago, Illinois.
Don and his brother owned and operated a mink ranch and raised over 1200 mink. He later went on to serve his country in WWII for two years in the United States Army. Don was one of the few soldiers that went overseas on the Queen Mary. Following his military service, Don came back to purchase a retail store in Greenbush, Minnesota. He asked his sweetheart, Vi, to marry him and help run "Becken's". They were married on June 23, 1954. Don and Vi owned "Becken's" for over 20 years while raising 3 children in an apartment above the business.
When Don and Vi decided to retire, they wanted to move closer to Don's father in Hallock, MN. There they built a new home next to his father's house which is where he and Vi resided throughout their retirement. After his move back to Hallock, Don worked for the Hallock school district as a custodian/bus driver.
December of 2008 found Don not being able to live by himself because of his illness. He moved to Tracy, Minnesota to live with his daughter and son-in-law, Ade and Jim Miller. Don's health was failing fast and it wasn't until June of 2009 that he was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig Disease). Don fought a tough painful battle but died peacefully with his daughter at his bedside, knowing he was going to see all his loved ones in heaven soon.
Don loved his wife Vi more than anything on earth. They both loved the outdoors and planted many hundreds of trees. Don lived for deer hunting season when he and his son, grandsons and friends could hunt for the "biggest buck" on his land. Those that knew Don knew that he had a passion for painting. For almost 70 years he painted over 1,300 pieces! Don loved to golf with his good friend, Wilbur Koop, and visit with his very good neighbors, the Myron and Joyce Jans family. He always talked about his coffee times with the "boys" at Cenex and each day he looked forward to going to the Senior Center for a meal, then some card playing, or pool.
Survivors include his daughter Adeline (Jim) Miller of Tracy, MN, his son, Allen (Roxanne) Becken of Owatonna, MN, grandchildren, Heidi (Travis) Sohn, Nicholas, Emily, Molly Miller, Jillian (Ryan) Schiel, Darrick, Dillon and Crystal Becken, Sister-in-law Eleanor Becken of Coon Rapids, MN, sister, Phyllis (Ben) Finazzo of Cold Springs, MN, and sister, Marjorie (Lloyd) Mathews of Otsego, MN. Don was preceded in death by his parents, wife Violena, daughter Donna (Charles) Pugliese, and brother, Warren. May they all rest in peace.
Funeral Services for Donald O. Becken will be Saturday, September 19th at 1:00 p.m. at Grace Lutheran Church in Hallock, MN with lunch served afterwards.
Donald "Don" Becken, 85, of Hallock, MN passed away on September 1, 2009 while residing at the home of his daughter and son-in-law, Adeline (Ade) and Jim Miller in Tracy, MN.
Donald Olaf Becken was born in Halma, Minnesota the son of Ole and Jessie Becken. He had one brother, Warren and two sisters, Marjorie and Phyllis. He was raised on a farm near Hallock and graduated from Hallock High School. At the time of his death, Don was the last living boy of his high school graduating class. Following his high school graduation, he went on to business school in Fargo, North Dakota and also completed a Watch-making course in Chicago, Illinois.
Don and his brother owned and operated a mink ranch and raised over 1200 mink. He later went on to serve his country in WWII for two years in the United States Army. Don was one of the few soldiers that went overseas on the Queen Mary. Following his military service, Don came back to purchase a retail store in Greenbush, Minnesota. He asked his sweetheart, Vi, to marry him and help run "Becken's". They were married on June 23, 1954. Don and Vi owned "Becken's" for over 20 years while raising 3 children in an apartment above the business.
When Don and Vi decided to retire, they wanted to move closer to Don's father in Hallock, MN. There they built a new home next to his father's house which is where he and Vi resided throughout their retirement. After his move back to Hallock, Don worked for the Hallock school district as a custodian/bus driver.
December of 2008 found Don not being able to live by himself because of his illness. He moved to Tracy, Minnesota to live with his daughter and son-in-law, Ade and Jim Miller. Don's health was failing fast and it wasn't until June of 2009 that he was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig Disease). Don fought a tough painful battle but died peacefully with his daughter at his bedside, knowing he was going to see all his loved ones in heaven soon.
Don loved his wife Vi more than anything on earth. They both loved the outdoors and planted many hundreds of trees. Don lived for deer hunting season when he and his son, grandsons and friends could hunt for the "biggest buck" on his land. Those that knew Don knew that he had a passion for painting. For almost 70 years he painted over 1,300 pieces! Don loved to golf with his good friend, Wilbur Koop, and visit with his very good neighbors, the Myron and Joyce Jans family. He always talked about his coffee times with the "boys" at Cenex and each day he looked forward to going to the Senior Center for a meal, then some card playing, or pool.
Survivors include his daughter Adeline (Jim) Miller of Tracy, MN, his son, Allen (Roxanne) Becken of Owatonna, MN, grandchildren, Heidi (Travis) Sohn, Nicholas, Emily, Molly Miller, Jillian (Ryan) Schiel, Darrick, Dillon and Crystal Becken, Sister-in-law Eleanor Becken of Coon Rapids, MN, sister, Phyllis (Ben) Finazzo of Cold Springs, MN, and sister, Marjorie (Lloyd) Mathews of Otsego, MN. Don was preceded in death by his parents, wife Violena, daughter Donna (Charles) Pugliese, and brother, Warren. May they all rest in peace.
Funeral Services for Donald O. Becken will be Saturday, September 19th at 1:00 p.m. at Grace Lutheran Church in Hallock, MN with lunch served afterwards.
Donald Olaf Becken was born in Halma, Minnesota the son of Ole and Jessie Becken. He had one brother, Warren and two sisters, Marjorie and Phyllis. He was raised on a farm near Hallock and graduated from Hallock High School. At the time of his death, Don was the last living boy of his high school graduating class. Following his high school graduation, he went on to business school in Fargo, North Dakota and also completed a Watch-making course in Chicago, Illinois.
Don and his brother owned and operated a mink ranch and raised over 1200 mink. He later went on to serve his country in WWII for two years in the United States Army. Don was one of the few soldiers that went overseas on the Queen Mary. Following his military service, Don came back to purchase a retail store in Greenbush, Minnesota. He asked his sweetheart, Vi, to marry him and help run "Becken's". They were married on June 23, 1954. Don and Vi owned "Becken's" for over 20 years while raising 3 children in an apartment above the business.
When Don and Vi decided to retire, they wanted to move closer to Don's father in Hallock, MN. There they built a new home next to his father's house which is where he and Vi resided throughout their retirement. After his move back to Hallock, Don worked for the Hallock school district as a custodian/bus driver.
December of 2008 found Don not being able to live by himself because of his illness. He moved to Tracy, Minnesota to live with his daughter and son-in-law, Ade and Jim Miller. Don's health was failing fast and it wasn't until June of 2009 that he was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig Disease). Don fought a tough painful battle but died peacefully with his daughter at his bedside, knowing he was going to see all his loved ones in heaven soon.
Don loved his wife Vi more than anything on earth. They both loved the outdoors and planted many hundreds of trees. Don lived for deer hunting season when he and his son, grandsons and friends could hunt for the "biggest buck" on his land. Those that knew Don knew that he had a passion for painting. For almost 70 years he painted over 1,300 pieces! Don loved to golf with his good friend, Wilbur Koop, and visit with his very good neighbors, the Myron and Joyce Jans family. He always talked about his coffee times with the "boys" at Cenex and each day he looked forward to going to the Senior Center for a meal, then some card playing, or pool.
Survivors include his daughter Adeline (Jim) Miller of Tracy, MN, his son, Allen (Roxanne) Becken of Owatonna, MN, grandchildren, Heidi (Travis) Sohn, Nicholas, Emily, Molly Miller, Jillian (Ryan) Schiel, Darrick, Dillon and Crystal Becken, Sister-in-law Eleanor Becken of Coon Rapids, MN, sister, Phyllis (Ben) Finazzo of Cold Springs, MN, and sister, Marjorie (Lloyd) Mathews of Otsego, MN. Don was preceded in death by his parents, wife Violena, daughter Donna (Charles) Pugliese, and brother, Warren. May they all rest in peace.
Funeral Services for Donald O. Becken will be Saturday, September 19th at 1:00 p.m. at Grace Lutheran Church in Hallock, MN with lunch served afterwards.
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