Joe Herman Becker was born to Dick and Dorthea (Terhorst)_ Becker on November 10, 1920 on a farm near Bejou, Minnesota. When he was three years old, he moved with his parents to Kadoka, South Dakota, and they lived there for six months In 1924, they moved to Holland, Minnesota where Joe was raised and attended country school. Upon completion of his education, he helped on the family farm. On June 3, 1942, he was united in marriage to Dorothy Verdoes in Albert Lea, Minnesota. Following their marriage, they farmed for three years in Pipestone County, Minnesota. In 1946, they moved to a farm in Murray County, Minnesota where they farmed for 24 years. In 1970, they moved back to Holland, and Joe became the district manager for Blaney Seed Corn Company. After his retirement in 1982, they continued to reside in Holland. On Tuesday, April 18, 2000, Joe entered the Ashton Care Center in Pipestone where he died on Monday, April 24, 2000, at the age of 79 years, 5 months and 14 days. Joe was a member of the Christian Reformed Church in Holland where he had served as a deacon for several terms. He had also helped as the church janitor for several years. He had been a 4-H leader for many years. He enjoyed playing softball as well as umpiring softball games. He also enjoyed woodworking, especially making bird feeders, bird houses and lawn sets. Joe was a big hunter, especially a deer hunter way up north every fall. He hunted for more than 40 years with his good friend Jake Van Eps. Joe loved his little great-grandchildren. He is lovingly remembered by his wife, Dorothy Becker of Holland, Minnesota; two children, Marvin Gene and his wife Lenny Becker of Garvin, Minnesota, and Sharon Kay and her husband Kenneth Blom of Raymond, Minnesota; four grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; and five great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; and infant daughter; three brothers, John, Gerrit and Carl; and two sisters, Nellie Van Eps and Henietta Nielsen.