Pauline M. Becker

On Monday, December 11, 2006, Our Mother once again was in the loving arms of Her Husband, Our Father, Ray Becker.

Pauline Mae "Polly" Decker was born May 31st, 1923 to Irvin & Freda (Hannesson) Decker at Upham, ND. At the age of 13 she moved to the Red River Valley to live and graduated from Hensel High School in 1941. On September 1st of that year she married the love of Her life, Ray Becker on the Becker family farm at Hensel. They were married for 50 years.

Together as one, over the years they raised five children, a couple hundred cattle, numerous pigs and chickens, a sprinkling of horses, dogs, cats and raccoons, and sheep, way too many sheep. Polly had a special love for animals. In the spring as often as not You could find the runts and orphans in a box in Her kitchen where She would care for and nurture them like they were Her own children. It never seemed to matter who or what, there was always a place in her kitchen and heart for those that needed it most. Throughout the years on the farm she raised a large garden along with tending the animals her favorite being Betsy the milk cow. She spent Her falls harvesting the crops, putting up preserves and packaging meat to feed Her family and was always willing to share the fruits of her labor with friends and those in need. It was a time of hard work but the camaraderie of her two sisters-in-law Evelyn and Mildred made it a labor of love.

Polly was on the Hensel Redskins basketball team and enjoyed watching basketball and baseball. She was a member of Vidalin Lutheran church rural Hensel where she taught Sunday School and Summer Bible School for many years. In 1978, they moved to Cavalier and began to take life a little easier. It was then they joined United Lutheran, where she enjoyed quilting with the ladies until her illness made it impossible to continue. They traveled extensively to visit their children and enjoyed their "camping" trips with her brother Donald and His sidekick "Auntie" Doris. A high point in her life was a trip to the Holy Land with Pastor Charlie Brown. Ray and Polly were charter members of the local NFO and were farmers in their hearts and souls.

Polly is survived by Her five children, Harold ( Carol ) Becker, Fargo, ND - Patricia ( Charles ) Hawkins, Friendsville, TN - Scot ( Jodi ) Becker, Grand Forks, ND - Sandra Knight, Vonore, TN - Norman ( Sandy ) Becker, Cavalier, ND. Seven grandchildren Twila (Gary) Quam, Jeff Becker, Rhonald Hawkins, Ray (Andrea) Hawkins, Yolanda (Patrick) Collins, Amanda Becker, and Krystel (Jimmy Hudson) Becker. Three great grandchildren, Brandon & Christian Quam and Desirae Hawkins and a step-grandson Shannon Dennis. One sister Gertrude ( Lawrence ) Mettler of Minot and sister-in-law Betty (Charles) Decker of Spokane Washington.

She was preceded in death by her parents Irvin and Freda, Her loving husband Ray, an infant grand-daughter, and siblings Charles Decker, Donald Decker, Louis Decker, Johann Cook, Almeda Olson, and Ellen Ramos.

Pallbearers at Polly's request are Allen Anderson, Larry Baker, Jay Carik, Danne Hartje, Burt Jackson, and Jim Sott. Honorary pallbearers are all her grandchildren, nieces and nephews on both sides. Clergy: Rev. Doug Heskin. Music: Mark Olson and Sandra Knight, Soloist and Christine Hughes, Organist.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, December 15, 2006, at 2:00 p.m. at the United Lutheran Church, Cavalier, ND. Visitation will be held Thursday, December 14th from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Jensen-Askew Funeral Home, Cavalier, ND. Visitation at the church for one hour before the time of service. Burial in the Cavalier Cemetery.