Philip John Becker

Philip John Becker, 48, passed away Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012, at his home in Kettering, Ohio, from a sudden heart attack. He was the epitome of a faithful servant of the Lord Jesus. Philip always found only goodness and light wherever he went. He was deeply loved by his family and friends. Phil was born on May 16, 1964, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota to Duane “Bud” and MariLynn Becker. He graduated from Sioux Falls Lincoln High School in 1982 and South Dakota State University in 1986. He married Lisa Welsh on March 20, 1987, in Sioux Falls, S. D. They celebrated 25 wonderful, love-filled years of marriage together in March this year. They have two beautiful daughters, Molly, a junior at the University of Dayton studying early childhood education, and Claire, a senior at Fairmont High School. They are his pride and joy. After marrying in 1987, Phil and Lisa moved to Lubbock, Texas, and three months later to Las Vegas, Nevada, to fulfill Phil’s commitment to the United States Air Force as a 2nd Lieutenant. While stationed at Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas, Phil was selected for a very competitive program to pursue his master’s degree in mechanical engineering through the Air Force. He chose to attend the University of Minnesota to be closer to family in South Dakota, where Lisa’s father was very ill at the time. While pursuing his degree at the U of Minnesota, Phil and Lisa lived in a suburb of St. Paul, Minnesota, where they welcomed their first child, Molly Jane. She has the strength and deep Christian faith of her father, and will bring as much joy to the world as he did. The young family then moved to Dayton, Ohio, where Phil was selected to be an instructor of mechanical engineering at the United States Air Force Institute of Technology. He proudly served his country, and felt honor in being part of the military like his dad, who served as a tailgunner in World War II. It was at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base that they welcomed their second daughter, Claire Elise. She has the happy-go-lucky nature that so defined her father, as well as his ability to see the good in everyone. Phil was honorably discharged from active duty with the US Air Force in 1996 as a Captain. The family then moved to St. Cloud, Minnesota, where he took a job briefly with a small mechanical engineering firm. They decided to move back to Kettering, Ohio, a year later, as it felt like home to them. They wanted to give their girls strong roots and a stable home life, rather than continuing to move with the Air Force. Phil was fortunate to be offered back a job he previously declined with Stan Engineers, thanks to his generous boss, Bob Stan. The two formed a great team, building the company for the past 15 years, with Phil serving as Vice President. Throughout his life, Phil saw and shared all that is good. He had unwavering faith in God and will surely be with him in heaven. Phil gave 110 percent in all that he did. His life will stand as a model for many. He was a humble servant whose most important roles were being a loving, devoted, and selfless husband, father, son, brother, friend, and neighbor. Phil was preceded in death earlier this year by his father, Duane “Bud” Becker, on Feb. 17, 2012. He is survived by his loving and faithful wife, Lisa, and their daughters, Molly and Claire, of Kettering; his mother, MariLynn Becker, of Sioux Falls, S.D.; brother Don (Carol) Becker and daughters Lindsay and Aly, of Sioux Falls, S.D.; brother Tim (Frances) Becker and their children Christian and Mikayla, of Rapid City, S.D.; brother Mike (Georgene) Becker and daughters Lexy, Lauren, and Lily, of Sioux Falls, S.D.; mother-in-law Carole Welsh, of Sioux Falls, S.D., and sister-in-law Kelly (Doug) Dix and daughters Abby, Megan, and Emily, of Pierre, S.D. The family will receive friends Wednesday, August 15, 2012 from 4:00 – 7:00 PM at the Tobias Funeral Home – Far Hills Chapel, 5471 Far Hills Ave. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 12 noon on Thursday, Aug. 16, at St. Albert the Great Catholic Church in Kettering. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.tobiasfuneralhome.com