BECKER, Amelia M. (Niemeyer) 1850-1913

BECKER, NIEMEYER, KUNKEL, BITTNER, MEEHAN, SCHULTE, BUSHELMAN, SCHAFER, HOCHSTEIN, ARENS

Posted By: S. Ferrall - IAGenWeb volunteer
Date: 11/13/2012 at 17:59:32

Funeral on Birthday - Mrs. John Becker Dies Suddenly

A Christmas gathering at which relatives and friends were gathered was turned from a scene of joy and happiness to sorrow and grief when Mrs. John Becker, a well known pioneer of Plymouth county, was stricken by the Angel of Death, after spending a happy day with her children and grandchildren at the home of her son-in-law, Frank Kunkel, residing near town.

Mrs. Becker retired to bed apparently in her usual health and spirits. During the night feeling ill she aroused her daughter and assistance was summoned. She died in a few minutes, her death being ascribed by a physician who was summoned, to heart failure. Her sudden death came as a great shock to her husband, children and many friends.

Mrs. Becker was sixty three years of age at the time of her death. She was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on December 29, 1850. When five years old her parents moved to Guttenberg, Ia., where she grew to womanhood. Her maiden name was Amelia Margaretta Niemeyer. She was united in marriage with John Becker in Guttenberg on January 1, 1874 and the spring of the same year they came to Plymouth county which has been there home since.

Nine children were born to their union, five of whom are left with the husband to mourn. They are Mrs. Frank Kunkel, John E. Becker, Mrs. J.E. Kunkel, Henry C. Becker and Jessie Becker, all living in this immediate vicinity.

For many years Mr. and Mrs. Becker lived in America township, three miles southeast of town, where they owned a large stock farm and conducted farming operations on a large scale.

Mrs. Becker was a good Christian, a loving wife and mother, a competent and capable woman, a true helpmate in every sense of the word to her husband and devoted to his interests and those of her children. As a neighbor she was ever ready to extend aid and sympathy to the sick and distressed and her thoughtfulness and kindliness were unbounded. Friendliness and hospitality were second nature to her and her home for many years was known as one of the pleasantest places at which friends and neighbors gathered. Since leaving the farm a few years [ago] Mr. and Mrs. Becker have lived in LeMars on Madison street enjoying a well earned rest and leaving the work on their farms to their sons and daughters.

The funeral ws held yesterday morning at St. Joseph's church and was very largely attended by relatives, old friends and neighbors. Solemn requiem mass was celebrated by Monsignor F.X. Feuerstein, assisted by Rev. Father H. Rolfes, of Oyens, and Rev. Father Fisch, of Maurice.

Among the out of town relatives who came to attend the funeral were Henry Niemayer, of Guttenberg, Mr. and Mrs. L.B. Bittner, Bellevue, Mr. and Mrs. Pat Meehan, of Rockwell, Mrs. Herman Becker of Ackley, John Schulte, John Bushelman and Hubert Schafer, of Fordyce, Neb., Peter Becker, John Becker, John Hochstein and Mrs. Arens, of Hartington, Neb.

~LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel, Tuesday, December 30, 1913