Leona M. Becher

Leona Mehling Becher, 93, died Friday, July 4, 2014 at Providence Retirement Home in New Albany. She was born September 9, 1920 in Ferdinand, Indiana to the late John and Ida (Schum) Mehling. She is also preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, Roman Becher. She was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Lanesville for 50 years and of Holy Family Catholic Church in New Albany for the past 7 years. She retired from ICI Americas at the Indiana Army Ammunition Plant in 1986 after 20 years of service. She spent her retirement years traveling with her husband to all 50 states and Europe.

She passed on her great faith to her four children; Daniel (Jayne) Becher of Sellersburg, IN, Sandra (Powell) Felix of Connersville, IN, Donald (Donna) Becher of Fort Wright, KY, and Diana (Terry) Sherrard of Evansville, IN.

She is also survived by 11 grandchildren; Greg Becher, Kevin (Missy) Becher, Jeff Becher, Scott Becher, Rhett (Susan) Felix, Tara (Matt) Walsh, Kesha (Josh) Lainhart, Michael (Kimberly) Becher, Noah (Kali) Becher, Jessica Sherrard, and Gabrielle Sherrard. She is also survived by 7 great grandchildren and, being from a family of 10 children, two sisters, Sr. Beata Mehling OSB and Elfrieda Hedinger and two brothers, Harold Mehling and Eugene Mehling, all of Ferdinand, IN.

Along with her deeply held faith, she passed along to her children the great importance she placed on education, with all four children graduating from college. Even though she did not attend school past the eighth grade, she was proud to obtain a high school diploma from Providence High School through a GED test when she was in her forties.

The family wishes to extend their appreciation to the staff at Providence for the caring assistance to our mother during the past few months.

Visitation will be from 2:00 pm to 8:00 pm Monday at Kraft Funeral Service, 2776 Charlestown Road, New Albany, Indiana. Her Funeral Mass will be 10:00 am Tuesday at Holy Family Catholic Church, 129 W. Daisy Lane, New Albany, Indiana with burial to follow at St. Mary Catholic Cemetery in Lanesville, Indiana.

Contributions in her memory may be made to: St. Meinrad School of Theology, Sisters of St. Benedict in Ferdinand, Indiana, or Providence High School.

Online condolences may be made to www.kraftfs.com