Gary R Becker

Gerald Robert Becker was born to Raymond and Helen (Yost) Becker in Florence, Kansas on January 26, 1955. He passed away peacefully and without pain on May 16, 2026, at Wesley Hospital in Wichita, Kansas at the age of seventy-one years.

Dad grew up in Burns, Kansas. He was baptized on January 12, 1969, into the Church of God in Christ Mennonite by Minister Alvin Koehn.

He married his childhood friend Cheleen Smith on July 17, 1977, in West Point, Mississippi. They shared life for almost 49 years and were blessed with 4 girls and finally a boy! Shortly after marriage, they moved to West Point, Mississippi but after two years the pull of Kansas became too much, and they returned to Burns where they stayed for the remainder of his life. After working as a farmhand for several years, he started a lime spreading business though he was a farmer at heart. He made that dream a reality in the late 80’s when he bought the home place and started his own farm. We as children enjoyed helping dad farm. Harvest being a favorite time. Often after a day of spreading lime dad would come home and tell mom to, “Bring out the ice-cream!”

Dad showed his love by doing things for us, building a slipper slide, and a merry-go-round teeter totter with old tractor seats and modifying a lawn mower for us to drive around. We had many happy hours as a result. If something broke down, dad would find a way to fix it.

Dad loved a big garden, sometimes planting too much corn and beans. Dad and mom often rode their bikes in the evening or sat in their rockers and read. In later years, mom would ride with dad to go check the crops. Mom was dad's stability.

His face would light up when we as children and especially his grandchildren were around. Family time was special. When his health started to decline, even though he suffered a lot of pain, he enjoyed his grandchildren, often getting on the floor to play.

He loved singing and although he could not carry a tune, he sure could whistle! It was a special time when we stood at his bedside and sang to him at the hospital for the last time.

He appreciated the church and was faithful to his Savior to the end. If he felt to apologize, he would humbly come and tell us he was sorry. Dad did his best to keep an open way with us. His last words were “Meet you in the morning”.

Those left to cherish memories are his wife, Cheleen, five children, Autumn and Ted Koehn, Galva, Kansas, Suzanna and Matt Peachey, Little Falls, New York, Roxanne and Myron Giesbrecht, Basin City, Washington, Rachelle and Matthew Leatherman, Transylvania, Louisiana, David and Kayla Becker, Transylvania, Louisiana. Sixteen grandchildren, Gary’s family, Galen Becker, Moundridge, Kansas, Loren and Marilyn Becker, Texline, Texas, Donna and William, Burns Kansas, Don and Marilyn Becker, Grandview, Idaho, Delbert and Larinda Becker, Texline, Texas, Carolyn and Rodney Koehn, Burns, Kansas, and Calvin and Cindy Becker, El Dorado, Kansas. Cheleen’s family, Elwood and Kathy Smith Texline, Texas and Joe and Berneil Smith Wittmann, Arizona. He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters-in-law, three nieces and two nephews. 

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, May 20, 2026 at 10:30 AM at Eden Mennonite Church in Burns, Kansas. Burial will follow at the Eden Mennonite Church Cemetery. A visitation will be held the evening prior to the funeral, Tuesday, May 19, 2026, from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM at the Eden Mennonite Church. Memorials are suggested to the Eden Church School and may be left in the care of Petersen Funeral Home, Newton, Kansas.

For the service audio, see this link:

https://listentochurch.com/listen/eden