BECKER, Jimmy Johnson "Jim" - b. Oct. 23, 1926 - d. December 19, 2006

[Janet Harrington]

Independence Daily Reporter
December 21, 2006 page 2

Jimmy "Jim" Johnson Becker, 80, of Longton, died Tuesday at Mercy Hospital in Independence.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday at the Christian Community Church in Longton with Pastor Terry Marta of Elk City officiating.  Burial with military honors will be in Longton Cemetery.

Visitation will be at Zimmerman Funeral Home, Howard, until 9 p.m. today, with the family receiving friends from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m.

Memorials are suggested to the Jim Becker Memorial Fund at the Bank of Longton, and they may be left with the fuenral home.

Mr. Becker was born on Oct. 23, 1926 at Resse to Benjamin and Lena (Rodenbaugh) Becker.  He attended rural schools in the Reese area.

He served as a paratrooper during World War II.

After the war, he married Naida F. Eichman on Aug. 28, 1948 at Russell, and they later divorced.

Mr. Becker had worked as a professional cowboy in the Coldwater area.  In the early 1960s, the family moved to Howard, later going to Atkinson, Neb., to manage a farm in the mid-1960s.  They returned to Howard in the late 1960s where he operated a cattle and horse ranch.  Mr. Becker also had owned and operated several businesses, but remained a cattleman and horseman throughout his life.

He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1186 in independence, American Quarter Horse Association and Appaloosa Horse Club.

He is survived by his companion, Beverly O'Neal; three daughters, Diana Stroble, Longton, Debra Ott, Fairview, Okla., and Barbara Small, Indianapolis, Ind.; three sisters, Elizabeth Lohmann and Margaret Spencer, both of Alva, Okla., and Christine Webb, of Missouri; seven grandchildren and one great grandson.
...

(The following was taken from the Flint Hills Express on Dec. 27, 2006, on page 4)

Jimmy Johnson Becker died Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2006 at Mercy Hospital in Independence.  He was 80 years of age and a resident of Longton.  Jim was born on Oct. 23, 1926 at Reese to Benjamin Frank and Lena E. (Rodenbaugh) Becker.  he attended rural school and grew to namhood in the Reese area.

Jim served his country as a paratrooper during World War II.  After the war, he married Naida Fern Eichman on August 28, 1949 at Russell and to this union was born three daughters, Diana, Deb and Barbie.  Jim and Naida began making their home in the ranch country near Coldwater where he worked as a professional cowboy.  In the early 1960's, the family moved to howard where they lived until moving to manage a farm at Atkinson, Neb. in the mid-1960's.  The family returned to howard in the late 1960's where Jim operated a cattle and horse ranch.  his marriage to Naida ended later in life and Jim lived in the Moline and Longton communities where he raised a few head of sheep and continued ranching.  He owned and oeprated several businesses, but remained a cattleman and horseman throughout his life.

He is survived by his companion, Beverly O'Neal; his daughters, Diana Stroble of Longton, Debra Ott of Fairview, Okla. and Barbara Small of Indianapolis, Ind.; his sisters, Elizabeth Lohmann and Margaret Spencer, both of Alva, Okla. and Christine Webb of Mo.; seven grandchildren and one great grandson.  He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Ralph, Bob and Charles; two sisters, Edna Mae McMoran and Perilla Zahorsky and his granddaughter, Kami Ott.

Funeral services were held on Friday, Dec. 22, 2006 at the Christian Community Church in Longton with Pastor Terry Marta of Elk City officiating.  The casket bearers were Marshall Baker, Justin Gentry, Jared Nash, Cody Ott, Travis Stroble and Justin Turner.  The honorary casket bearers will be Brad Ott, Tony Small and Charlie Stroble.  Military funeral honors were conducted by V. F. W. Post 1186 at the Longton Cemetery.  A memorial has been established with the Jim becker Memorial Fund at the Bank of Longton.  Contributions may be left with the funeral home.  The funeral arrangements were made with the Zimmerman Funeral Home of Howard.

[genealogynut]

I remember when Jim & Naida operated the donut shop/cafe, out there along the highway, where P & J's is now.  I thought they had a good thing goin' at the time.

[Janet Harrington]

Yes they did and the broasted chicken was the best.