A memorial service for Royce Eugene Becker, age 82, of Ellsworth, MN was held Monday, October 30, at Zion Presbyterian Church, in Ellsworth, officiated by Pastor Paul Snyder. Burial of cremains with full military honors, provided by the Ellsworth American Legion, was in the Grand Prairie Cemetery in Ellsworth. Royce died Thursday, October 26, 2017, at the Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls, SD.
Royce was born May 18, 1935, in Wilmot, SD, to Fred and Jennie (Williams) Becker. At the age of three, he moved with his family to Luverne, later they moved to Little Rock, IA. Royce attended country school before graduating from Ellsworth High School in 1953, where he played football and basketball. He also belonged to the Kanaranzi Livewire 4-H where he often showed pigs at the State Fair. Royce began working for Adrian Concrete in 1953. He served his country in the Minnesota National Guard from 1957 to 1964.
Royce married his high school sweetheart Marlene Ann Meester on July 23, 1957, at Zion Presbyterian Church in Ellsworth, MN. The couple lived in Adrian, Ellsworth and Kanaranzi before moving to Ellsworth in 1961. In 1964, Royce returned to Adrian Concrete. Royce partnered with Jim Honnerman and bought Adrian Concrete which later became Adrian Tile Company in November of 1976. In July of 1997, Royce sold his share in the Tile Company and began helping out at Dan’s Service Station in Ellsworth. In 2007, he began working part time at CHS.
Royce was a member of Zion Presbyterian Church in Ellsworth, where he had served as Trustee, Deacon and an Elder. He had served as a Councilman & Mayor of Ellsworth, served on the Ellsworth Volunteer Fire Department, and was a charter member of the Ellsworth Community Club. He enjoyed polka music, bowling, stock car racing at the local tracks, wintering in Texas for over eleven years, traveling to the casino, and baseball.
Royce is survived by his wife of sixty years, Marlene Becker, Ellsworth; three children, Lance (Nancy) Becker, Adrian, MN; Rhonda (Kenny) Groen, Ellsworth, MN; and Shelly (Gene) Lovell, Windom, MN; six grandchildren, Tara (Jeffrey) Theis, Jenna (Dylan) Kvaale, Marla (Travis) Jenniges, Makenzie (fiance, Derick Hall) Lovell, Collin Lovell (friend, Leah Hacker) and Kobe Lovell; six great grandchildren, Avery, Valentine, William and Adalyn Jenniges; and Layla & Harrison Kvaale; three step grandchildren, Ethan (Rachel), Ross & Spencer Wieneke; a brother, Linley (Lorraine) Becker, Sioux Falls, SD; and a sister-in-law, Darlene Becker, New Hope.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Russell Becker; and a niece, Kimberly Becker.
Dingmann Funeral Home & Cremation Services in Adrian was in charge of arrangements.
