Leonard Joseph Becchina

Leonard Joseph Becchina, passed away Tuesday, August 31st, 2021 at the young age of 61. Our loving and cherished husband, father, son, brother, uncle, cousin, and friend left us, far too soon, despite fighting so hard to stay, after a short illness and joined our heavenly father, his parents and other loved ones and friends in heaven. God must have had a very important job for him up there and needed to call him home.

Leonard was born in 1959 to Sam (Salvatore) and Virginia Mae Becchina. He was the second of six children.

Leonard grew up in a large and strong Italian family. His parents predeceased him in 2005 and 2020, respectively. Leonard married the love of his life, Bea (Beatrice Marie) Brice, on August 23, 1980. Together they had two beautiful daughters, Rochelle Marie "Shelly" (and Philip) Balthazor and Megan Elaine (and Christopher) Uresti, who are left to mourn their father. He also leaves behind his five siblings: Joseph Charles Becchina, Salvatore (and Sherry) Becchina, Jr., Rosemarie (and Paul) Dicus, Josephine Carol Becchina and Virginia Lee (and Michael) Kary. He leaves his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Bill and Bettye Brice, his sister-in-law Brenda and her husband Scott Bishop, brother-in-law Barry, and many nieces and nephews and cousins who adored him. He will also be greatly missed by his puppy dog, Harley Jax, and his grand-puppies, Stormy, Oakley, Bonnie and Clyde.

Leonard was born in Kansas City, Missouri at St. Joseph Hospital. He attended St. Francis Xavier, Bryant Elementary, Bingham Jr. HIgh and Southwest High School.

A natural supervisor since he was young, Leonard supervised while his dad and brothers did lawn work. If he didn’t agree with the way something was being done, he would jump in and do it himself. He would watch his mother iron clothes and clean around the house. She would walk out of the room and come back to find him doing those things for her.

His inclination for leadership and just knowing how to get things done led him to a career in doing just the same. Leonard retired from Space Center in 2018, where he had worked for around 30 years. There, Leonard helped run one of the largest underground storage facilities in the Midwest. Leonard was a hard worker and was well-respected amongst colleagues.

Leonard took much pride in everything he did. His largest priority and greatest love were his family. He was a man of tradition, family values, and doing the right thing. He was the “go to” man for many. Whether it was for advice, how to fix something, where to find the best food, or how to get a good deal, he could help and loved doing so. A master negotiator, a force to be reckoned with, he was always up to helping everyone with their most difficult tasks.

Lenny, as Bea would call him, was the ultimate protector and provider. He spent many years working very hard and he did it all for his family. The house was always locked up tight and the front door was never shut until you fully pulled away from the house. Leonard always called his sons-in-law to make sure his daughters were taken care of. Even if not asked, he always made sure his opinion was heard, especially when it involved his loved ones.

Len and Bea shared a love for music, great food, and good company. They enjoyed family trips to Branson, Colorado and loved Las Vegas. Len had a fun-loving knack for teasing and giving nicknames. He loved sixties and seventies classic rock, dancing, and could tell you the name of almost every artist that sang a song.

Leonard also loved animals. He had an instant bond with every animal he met. When he was young and lived with his parents, he brought home their family dog, Missy. One day at work, he found a kitten hiding in one of the caves and brought Smokey home to be a part of our family. He was deeply loved by his pups, Coco and Rascal, and grand-dog, Jasper, who I’m sure are so happy to be reunited with him, again.

Leonard left an imprint in the hearts and minds of all who met him. A loyal friend and a trusted and respected role model for so many. Most importantly, a true family man. Although we would rather have him here with us to provide the direction we so fondly know, love, and count on, we know God thought he could do this better from above and we will feel his presence guiding us every day and in everything we do.

Our lives on earth will never be the same without him here, but heaven has surely never been better.