Betty Jane Becker

Betty Jane Becker was born on April 6, 1913, in Chicago, Illinois. She was the daughter of Rhetta Buescher Keck from Fort Madison, Iowa and Albert Garfield Keck from Chicago. She had an older brother, Richard Buescher Keck. Her American ancestors were involved in banking, business, politics and homemaking. Both her father and brother worked for the First National Bank of Chicago. Betty attended Catholic schools in her early youth and, owing to her native intelligence, skipped the second grade. Her family moved to Wilmette, Illinois, and Betty attended and graduated from New Trier High School. She then went to Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois where she majored in sociology and economics and played field hockey, one of the first collegiate sports for women. She was one of only three girls in her physics class. She joined Kappa Alpha Theta and celebrated the 75th year of her initiation with her Theta sisters a few years ago. After graduation, Betty visited her relatives in Fort Madison, Iowa where she met her future husband, Howard Eugene Becker, at a party. She married Howard in a small ceremony in her home since her mother was very ill. She was a loving and devoted wife throughout their 30 years together. Betty and Howard moved to the Los Angeles area, including Alhambra, where all four of their children were born: Garr (1938), Bruce (1942), Nancy (1945), and Betsy (1949). Her family moved to New Jersey (Montclair) and Illinois (Riverside) before moving back to California (Alhambra and Sierra Madre) and back to Illinois (Hinsdale) again. In all these places, her family's life revolved around family dinners, housekeeping, church, school, play, work, sports, friends, birthdays, holidays, reading, and relaxation. Her beloved father came to live with the family in 1949 and stayed until his death. Her family had its share of sadness, but her children were generally happy, free, fun-loving kids who "pitched in" and were reasonably well-behaved. Garr married Donna Wallace and they had Betty's first grandchildren, Allison and Marti. Great-grandchildren include Dave (Allison) and Peyton and J.D. (Marti). Bruce married Jeri Mitchell and they had two children, Jill and Garr. Nancy married Bob Toothman and they had four children, Chris, Brad, Michael, and Kimmie. Great grandchildren include Jordan and Andrew (Chris), Tyler and Olivia (Brad), and Caden and Brooklyn (Kimmie). Betsy married Perry Nicassio and they had two children, John and David. Great-grandchildren include Eli and Alice (David). Betty was the family matriarch, yet had a special and deeply personal relationship with each child, grandchild, great-grandchild, and in-law. Betty went back to school in her 40's and received her Master's Degree in Social Work from USC. She worked as a social worker at the VA Hospital in Hines, Illinois for almost 20 years, rising to the supervisory level. Betty was delighted that she got to be a homemaker and also have such a fulfilling career in her lifetime. At the end of her career, she lived in Oak Park, Illinois and enjoyed her nightly cocktail and Wheel of Fortune with her friend, Ruth, and weekend brunches with her cousin, Jo, before moving back to California. Betty enjoyed traveling. She visited or passed through many states, some Pacific islands, most European countries, Russia, China, and Colombia, collecting mementos and memories, and garnering a knowledge of the world that she passed down to her children and grandchildren. In her retirement, Betty enjoyed being with her family, playing bridge with her wonderful friends in Carlsbad, gardening, keeping up with the stock market, and cooking different kinds of food than the traditional family fare she'd cooked while her children were growing up. Throughout her life, Betty enjoyed reading, puzzles, shopping for food and fine things at a bargain price, solitaire, watching sports (especially the Cubs and USC), good conversation, and her "little" drink at night. Betty had a fine character and was dearly loved by her family and friends. She was generous and charitable, but also thrifty and nonindulgent. She was proud of her family, but not boastful. She was adventurous, yet home-loving. Her intellect was awesome, as was her common sense. She worked hard, but knew how to relax. She valued family tremendously, but had a strong sense of her own personhood. She was dependable, prudent, sociable, curious, decent, industrious, shrewd, capable, loving and lovable. She created a happy home for her children in their youth and for everyone to visit in her later years. Many people felt they had a special and unique relationship with her and treasured the pleasure of her company. Betty died on July 1, 2010 after 97 years on this Earth and now resides in heaven with her parents, brother, husband, children, other relatives, and friends who have passed before her. This obituary is not complete. For instance, to note that she enjoyed "reading" in a list of other things she enjoyed, does not adequately convey just how important books were to her. To list the names of her family members does not express the love between them. Hopefully, all who read this will add their own thoughts about Betty below.