Loren 'Woody' D. Becker

Loren (Woody) Becker, Age 89 of Madison, SD, formerly of Sioux Falls, died Tuesday, January 2nd, 2024 at Madison Regional Hospital.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30AM Monday, January 8, 2024 at St. Thomas Catholic Church in Madison.

Visitation will be 5:00-7:00PM on Sunday, January 7, 2024 with Christian Wake Service at 7 pm at Ellsworth Funeral Home in Madison. Visitation will continue one hour preceding the service at the church.

Burial with Military Honors will  be at St. Thomas Cemetery, Madison.

Woody was born on February 17, 1934, to Laurence and Evelyn (Doe) Becker in Adrian, MN. His family moved to Sioux Falls when he was 5 years old. He attended Cathedral Elementary School and 3 years of High School. He transferred to Washington High School for his senior year, graduating in 1952.

He married his High School sweetheart (June Michael) on June 6, 1953 at Little Flower Catholic Church in Sioux Falls. He served in the Navy Reserve during the Korean War.

Woody followed in his father and uncle’s footsteps in the creamery business beginning his career at Crescent Creamery, which later became Foremost Dairy. After Foremost dissolved, he began work for Lakeside Dairy until 1990. He then retired and moved to Madison.

Woody worked on a stock car pit crew at Soo Speedway in Sioux Falls in the 1950’s and attended nearly every race at Huset’s Speedway. He also learned carpentry from his father-in-law (Fred Michael), which led him to building the house they raised their family in. After June and Woody moved to a farm near Madison, he raised sheep on their acreage and he began work at the Madison Farmer’s Elevator.

He loved mowing his lush green lawn and also gardening while watching the herds of deer that would walk through the yard every morning and evening. He helped Don and Lori on their farm with fall tillage and always looked forward to driving the “big green machine” in circles around the fields.

He is survived by his daughter, Lori Hansen, Madison, SD, son Mark (Maureen) Becker, Midland, MI, son Don (Josalyn) Becker, Saint Johns, FL, and daughter Kathy (Duane) Phelps, Madison, SD, 7 grandchildren, Matthew, Eric, Jonathan, Nathan, Stephanie, Mike and Matt, 10 great grandchildren, Charlotte, Luke, Charles, Thomas, Drake, Harper, Emmett, Alex, Juliette, and Oliver, and a sister, Janice Amundson, Columbus, GA.

He is preceded in death by his parents, wife June in 2018, and son-in-law Don Hansen.

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