James "Jim" Becker

James “Jim” Becker, 58 year old resident of Pierz, MN, passed away on Saturday, May 14, 2016 at his residence. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 AM on Friday, May 20, 2016 at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Pierz, with Father Kenneth Popp officiating. Burial will be at St. Joseph’s Parish Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 PM to 8 PM on Thursday, May 19th and from 9 AM to 10 AM Friday at Shelley-Virnig Funeral Chapel in Pierz. James William Becker was born on January 28, 1958 to Norbert and Lucy (Tretter) Becker in Little Falls, MN. He grew up on the family dairy farm four miles west of Pierz. He attended St Joseph’s grade school and Healy High School. He worked at Crestliner Boats and then as a welder in Minneapolis, MN, Denver, CO and Omaha, NE before he started on a lifelong career as a truck driver working for various trucking firms including Dean’s Foods, Becker Trucking and finally Dark Roads Trucking. He retired from trucking in 2014. In February 12, 1982 he married Ruth Whitlock in Omaha, NE. and together they had four daughters. They later divorced. In June 19, 2009 he married Correna Haney in Pierz, MN and they remained in Pierz until his passing. Jim was wonderful singer and an avid Johnny Cash fan. Many people enjoyed hearing him sing Folsom Prison and Jackson on karaoke nights. He loved playing pool. He enjoying waterskiing, fishing, and building birdhouses. He loved spending time with his children and grandchildren. He always said driving is his job and driving is his hobby and he loved traveling. A particularly memorable trip for him was driving to Missouri and then out to California in 2012, when he met three new grandchildren for the first time. He also loved MOPAR cars and was always willing to talk to other muscle car enthusiasts. Jim is survived by his wife, Correna; daughters, Jennifer (Dustin) Johnson, Springfield, MO, Kelsey Becker, Seymour, MO; grandchildren Kylie Becker, Kowen Johnson, Jaxon Becker, McKenna Johnson, Seth Becker and granddaughter, Hannah, due on July 4th; sisters Lois (Swede) Roscoe, Harding, MN, Sharon (Gary) Schubert, Waikoloa, HI; brothers Jerry (Audrey) Becker, Pierz, MN, Danny (Sandy) Becker, Muskegon, MI; many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins. Preceding Jim in death were his parents Norbert and Lucy, infant sister Mary, brother Gordy, mother-in-law Gladys Haney, father-in-law Roger Haney, and brother-in-law Michael Haney.

Tributes

James "Jim" Becker

January 28, 1958 - May 14, 2016