Robert H Becker

Robert Harold Becker, age 80, of Mankato, died Wednesday, December 03, 2003, at Immanuel-St. Josephs Hospital in Mankato.

Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m., Saturday, December 6, 2003, at St. Pauls Evangelical Lutheran Church in North Mankato, with Rev. Charles Vannieuwenhoven officiating. Visitation will be 4-7 p.m., Friday at Mankato Mortuary, and continues one hour prior to the service on Saturday at the church. Interment will be in Ft. Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis. Memorials may be given to Minnesota Valley Lutheran High School.

Robert was born on July 29, 1923, in Mobridge, S.D., to Emil and Christine (Linderman) Becker. He was a 1941 graduate of Mobridge High School. Robert served in the U.S. Navy during WWII in the Pacific theater. He received both his Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry and Masters degree from SDSU in Brookings, S.D. He was united in marriage to Dorothy Rabenberg on June 9, 1948, in Glenham, S.D. Robert was employed as a chemistry professor at Mankato State University from 1956 to 1989. He enjoyed woodworking, fishing, hunting, playing cards, and bowling.

Robert is survived by his wife, Dorothy of Mankato; one son and his wife, Denis and Barbara Becker of Mankato; one daughter, Bonnie Horner of Chaska; six grandchildren, Joseph, Nathaniel, Jesse, and Kristin Becker, Stacy and Paul Horner; two sisters, Delores Fritz of Trail City, S.D., Jean Hoffman and her husband, Jim, of Seal Beach, CA; also nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Robert was preceded in death by his parents; one brother and one sister.