After graduation from Moses Lake High School, he enlisted in the USAF in January 1954, where he served as a radar operator in northern Japan.
As a veteran, he went to the University of Washington on the GI Bill and graduated in 1962 with a degree in Geography as a Cartographer. He married Jeanette Linerud after college and together they enjoyed 53 years of marriage. Jim started his career at the UW after many years working for consulting engineering firms. He returned to the university his last ten years before retirement.
He is survived by his wife Jean; son Frederich Becker; daughters Kristina Biro, Rachel Stone; and five grandsons: Eliah, Hayden, Nickolas, James, and Hutchinson.
