A Mass of Christian burial for Douglas J. Becker, 83 of Sisseton, SD will be held at 10:30 A.M.on Friday, October 24th at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Sisseton, SD followed by interment in
St. Peter's Catholic Cemetery in Sisseton, SD. The Rev. Fr. Jerome Ranek will be officiating. Pallbearers will be his seven children. Honorary Pallbearers will be his grandchildren, great grandchildren, Truman Nelson, Jim Forrette, and Charles Forrette. There will be visitation on Thursday, October 23, 2014 at Cahill Funeral Chapel in Sisseton, SD from 3:00 to 7:00 P.M. with a 7:00 P.M.Prayer Service. Douglas Joseph Becker, age 83, died Tuesday, Oct 21, 2014, at his home in Sisseton after a short battle with cancer. Douglas Joseph Becker was born Nov 18, 1930 to George and Helen (Eppers)Becker in Adrian, MN. He attended St Adrian's Catholic School and graduated in the class of 1948. After high school he joined the U.S. Navy where he served as a radio operator on the destroyer USN Gurke. He honorably served from Nov 1948 to Oct 1952. He received the Good Conduct, Navy Unit Commendation, Korean and UN medals, China Service Medal, and Navy
Occupation. He returned to Adrian and on June 2, 1953 married Patricia M. Forrette, also from Adrian. Using his G.I. bill he enrolled at South Dakota State University in Brookings as pharmacy major. Doug graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy in May 1957. He was hired by Calvin "Cab" Estwick, owner of Estwick's Red Cross Drug in Sisseton. In 1969, he purchased the drug store and renamed it Becker's Red Cross Drug. During this time Doug was also employed by the Coteau Des Prairie hospital as their hospital pharmacist. A new Beckers Drug was built on the corner of Veteran's Ave and Maple Street and opened for business in the fall of 1976. His son, Larry, joined him in 1980 after graduating from the SDSU
pharmacy program. Larry purchased the store in 1995 and Doug semi-retired. Doug did relief pharmacy work at Becker's Drug and Quarve Drug in Britton, owned and operated by his pharmacist daughter, Cindy.
Doug fully retired in his early 70's. Doug was an avid hunter and fisherman all his life. Most recently he shot a bull moose on a family hunting trip in Canada. He also enjoyed trapshooting
and won numerous awards throughout his career. Doug was an active member of the community, belonging to the Sisseton American Legion for 43 years and the PTA where he served as president. He was also active member of St. Peter's Catholic Church serving as a lector, on the church counsel and the Knights of Columbus. Doug also liked square dancing and was a member of the Corner Squares.
He is preceded in death by his parents, George and Helen Becker and two grandsons, Richard Bremmon and Paul Meland.
He is survived by his wife Patricia his seven children Jackie (Greg) Koch, Larry (Deb), Cheryl (Jim) Lyon, Cindy (Peter) Bremmon, Jim, Teresa (Tim) Meland, Mike (Fran), his 27 grandchildren - Elisha, Erin, Rachel, Laura, Nicole Koch; Miranda and Mark Becker; Steven,
Kim, Nathan, Patrick, Jennifer Lyon; Kathryn, Douglas, Lydia, Claire, Raymond, Emily Bremmon; Chase, Weston, Randi Becker; Ben, Sarah, John, Anne Meland; Kelly and Jerime Becker, and 21 great-grandchildren- Kennedy, Lucas, Margret, Jordan, Greyson, Charlotte, Lola,Lillian, Aubree, Adrianna, Carissa, Zephyr, Liam, Emilia, Addison, MaKynlee, Tyler, Owen, Michael, Nolan, Marcus.
In lieu of flowers please make a donation in his name to a charity of your choice or to St. Jude's
Medical Hospital.