Date of Birth:
Thursday, July 4, 1929
Date of Death:
Thursday, October 18, 2018
Age:
89 years old

Leora E. Becker

Leora E. Becker, age 89, of Rochester peacefully went home to the Lord on October 18, 2018 at The Prairie at Rochester Rehabilitation and Living Center. Leora Elizabeth Delaney was born on July 4, 1929 in Chester, MN, the youngest of seven children to James and Ina (Bierbaum) Delaney. She graduated from St. Charles High School in 1947. On February 18, 1950, she married Wesley Becker in Rochester; he preceded her in death on December 12, 2002.

Leora was a life-long resident of Rochester and a Mayo Clinic employee for 43 years. She began her employment working for Dr. Donald Balfour and then worked with Drs. Kendall and Hench in the discovery of Cortisone. She was the Supervisor of the Section of Transfusion Medicine for 27 years. She retired in 1991. Leora was a member of the MN Association of Blood Banks where she was President and served on the Board of Directors for two terms. She was a member of the Mayo Clinic Volunteer Service for 16 years where she served as President and Lead Member. She is a past President of the Minnesota Blood Bank Society. She volunteered at March of Dimes and served on the Board of Directors for Friends of Mayowood. She loved doing volunteer work and was awarded Volunteer of the Year at Homestead at Rochester in 2001.

Leora was a charter member of St. Pius Catholic Church where she served on the Parish Council and was a member of Winona Council of Catholic Women, St. Michael and St. Blasé Rosary Groups. She assisted with church dinners, bingo, donut crew, greeting, and ushering. She loved to travel, was a proud MN sports fan, and adored country music. She was the MN Representative of the Whispering Bill Anderson Fan Club. One of her favorite pastimes was listening to Daniel O’Donnell and she attended many of his shows in Branson, MO.

On October 30, 2008 Leora moved to The Homestead at Rochester Senior Complex which she enjoyed and where she made many new friends. We are very grateful to the wonderful staff at The Homestead, The Prairie, and Seasons Hospice for their kind and compassionate care.

Survivors include her son and daughter-in-law, Michael & Nancy Becker; six grandchildren, Beth (Seth) Friedt, Robin (Kyle) Kroening, Marc (Jennifer) Becker, Brian (Blair) Becker, Nykkole Becker, and Helen Gugsa; ten great-grandchildren, Miles, Henry and Reece Kroening, Josiah and Eli Friedt, Callan and William Becker, Quinn, Marley, and Cash Becker; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Wesley; parents, James and Ina; five brothers, Marvin, Cyril, James, Patrick, and Robert all of Rochester; sister, Margaret; niece, Jacquelyn Reed; nephew, Bill Reed; and great-niece, Elizabeth, all of Milwaukee, WI.

The Funeral Service for Leora will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, October 24, 2018 in the River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home with Rev. Thomas Loomis officiating. Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday evening, October 23, 2018 in the River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service on Wednesday. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery in Rochester.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the family for donations to charities of their choice.