The Reverend David Alexander Becherer

Father Becherer was born in Belleville, Illinois on July 6, 1922. He attended school at St. Luke Parish and Cathedral High Schools in Belleville, Illinois and completed seminary studies at the Pontifical College Josephinum, Worthington, Ohio in 1948. He was ordained to the Priesthood of Jesus Christ for the then-Diocese of Mobile on May 30, 1948.

Upon ordination, Father Becherer was assigned as Parochial Vicar at St. Joseph Parish, Pensacola, Florida, which was then part of the Diocese of Mobile. In 1961 he requested and was allowed to serve the St. James the Apostle Society on the South American Missions in Talara, Peru. Father Becherer remained in pastoral service to the missions in Peru, one time serving as Vocation Director of the Archdiocese of Piura, Peru, until he returned to the Archdiocese of Mobile in 2001 for health concerns. Father Becherer continued to offer priestly ministry to St. Columba Parish, Dothan, and St. Catherine of Siena Parish, Mobile, with special attention to the Hispanic Ministry Apostolate. He retired and entered residence at Sacred Heart Residence in 2007.

Father Becherer is survived by his sister, Mrs. Henry (Mary Jo) Bechtoldt of Mascoutah, Illinois, two brothers, Julian (Florita) Becherer of Belleville, Illinois and Carl (Chris) Becherer of St. Paul, Minnesota, and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, Mr. Alexander Becherer and Mrs. Marie Hoffmann Becherer; his brother-in-law, Mr. Henry Bechtoldt; and his half-sister, Ardell Reeb.

Visitation will take place on Thursday evening, May 30, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. with recitation of the Rosary at 7 p.m. in the Chapel of Sacred Heart Residence, 1655 McGill Avenue, Mobile. The Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, May 31, 2013 at 10 a.m. in the Chapel of the Sacred Heart Residence. Interment will take place in the Priest Section of Catholic Cemetery.