Becker, Minerva L. (Leach) 1868 - 1953

BECKER, SHERMAN, LEACH, MEYER, SINGELTON, DONLON

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 8/5/2021 at 20:31:24

Clayton County Register, Thur., 9 Apr. 1953.

Funeral services for Mrs. William Becker were held from the home at 1:30 o'clock Wednesday afternoon and at the Congregational church at 2 p.m. The Rev. Will Richards officiated. Burial was in the East Side cemetery.

Minerva L. Becker, age 84 years and four months, was born at Monona on Dec. 27, 1868, a daughter of Milton J. and Susan Sherman Leach. When five years of age she came to Elkader with her parents. She attended the Elkader schools and later assisted her father in the local post office. For several years she taught in the rural schools near Elkport and Garnavillo.

In 1893 she married Henry Meyer. They resided in Elkader until 1903 when they moved to Evanston, Ill. Mr. Meyer died Sept. 6, 1921. On October 10, 1923 she married William Becker and returned to Elkader where she resided until her death on April fifth at the General hospital in Prairie du Chien, Wis., where she had her cousin, Blanche A. Sherman, of Monona as a constant attendant.

Mrs. Becker was a charter member of the Congregational church at Elkader and for many years was a member of the choir. She was also a charter member of the Order of the Eastern Star, P.E.O., and the Coterie club. Mrs. Becker was active in these organizations until ill health prevented her from serving.

Surviving are her husband; a son, Dr. H. D. Meyer of Evanston, Ill.; a brother, Dr. J. S. Leach of Dubuque, Iowa; two grandchildren, Donald and Janet Meyer of Evanston, Ill.; a step-daughter, Mrs. Con Singelton of Houston, Texas; a nephew, Gordon Leach of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. A step-daughter, Mrs. J. P. Donlon of Elkader died in February 1942 and Frank A. Meyer of St. Louis, Mo., in 1939.

Pallbearers were: J. B. Donlon, L. I. Donlon, Don Wolf, Richard Wolf, Elmer Schulte, and Don Meyer.

Out of town relatives and friends who attended the funeral were: Dr. and Mrs. H. D. Meyer, Mr. and Mrs. Donald Meyer, Miss Janet Meyer, Evanston, Ill.; Dr. and Mrs. J. S. Leach, Dubuque; Miss Blanche Sherman, Monona; Mr. and Mrs. Frank Sherman, Bloomington, Wis.; Mrs. B. B. Everall, Monona; Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Leach, Cedar Rapids; William Glynn, Parkston, S. Dak.; Charles Glynn, Reno, Minn.; Mrs. John McDonnell, Clinton, Iowa; Mrs. Chan Coulter, Iowa City, Iowa; and Mrs. Fred Fink, Aurora, Iowa.