ALBERT BECKER

ALBERT BECKER Albert Steven Becker passed away peacefully late in the evening on July 27, 2025. Albert was a remarkable man, a loving father and husband. He was an active member of the community in New Meadows, Council, and McCall, ID. Many of you may have read his letters to the editor in the Star News and Council Record. Albert was born to the Becker Brewery legacy, Frederick Becker and Marjorie (Sissie) Jacobsen in Ogden, UT on August 9th, 1952. He was the youngest of four Becker children with older brother Kurt, and older sisters Frieda and Karen. After the death of their father Frederick at a young age, his mother Sissie remarried Paul Seeger. Albert integrated into a blended family, adding brothers Daryl, Billy, and Kent. Paul and Sissie also brought Tony into the world a few years later. The family relocated to Layton, UT where they emphasized the beauties and pleasures that their hard work provided at their historic Sleepy Springs homestead. His sister Karen's thoroughbred "Sheba" started his life-long love of horses and he sold chicken eggs to buy his first horse. He loved horseback riding on the national forest lands that bordered Sleepy Springs with his brothers and sisters. He and his brother Kurt used to race their horses bareback on the FS firebreak roads. After graduating from Layton High school Albert attended Utah State University in Logan, UT graduating in 1975 with a Degree in Range Management and a minor in Watershed Science. He was a member of Sigma Nu fraternity. Albert loved the Sigma Nu brotherhood and Utah State rodeo activities. Albert began working for the U.S. Forest during the summers with his brother Kurt, starting on the trail crew in Warren, ID in 1970. This was the beginning of his life long commitment of caring for the land and serving the people where he built lasting friendships and a remarkable career working on the Payette (twice), Wasatch Cache (twice), and Bridger-Teton National Forests. He was very fond of the Gros Ventre mountain range. It was 1975 in Logan, UT when Albert went to scout a place to board his horses. It was there he met the love of his life Holly (by golly) Black. She also had "a really nice horse trailer." Albert and Holly were married in Sandy, UT in 1977. Albert and Holly enjoyed working and living in Jackson and Evanston, WY, and in 1981, moved to beautiful Meadows Valley to work for the USFS on the Payette National Forest. The family was completed with the addition of sons Brandon (1984) and Steven (1987). The family has called Meadows Valley home for 44 years. Albert was a hard worker, a dreamer, a lover, a visionary, a brother, a husband, a father, a grandfather, a poet, a cowboy and a valued member of his community. Al had a genuine soul. He loved his family, his friends, his neighbors and good horses. He enjoyed finding common ground with others and seeking sustainable solutions for his community and society. Albert often said "there is nothing better than riding a good horse in good country". That was likely Albert's happiest place; on the back of a good horse riding in the mountains of Idaho, Wyoming, and Utah. Albert faced many challenges in life including a traumatic brain injury sustained while fighting a wildfire in the Salmon River breaks. This injury nearly ended his life in 1985 but he persevered. He was optimistic in action and thought and he always found a way to achieve what he set his mind to. Even when mounting a horse became challenging, he practiced in his stable. He rode and packed stock in the mountains with his many friends, and he packed into hunting camp for the annual hunt with his family and closest friends every year. He always looked forward to hunting camp and loved to speculate where he may find a "big mature bull this year". Albert will be greatly missed. His family would argue there aren't many better people in this world than Albert. His loss leaves a big hole that will not easily be filled. He is survived by his brothers Kurt and Tony, sisters Karen and Frieda, wife Holly, sons Steven and Brandon, daughter-in-law Stepheny, grandchildren Blaize and Pepper, and a world of friends that he respected and adored. Albert's celebration of life will be held at his and Holly's White Tail Ridge arena on September 20th. More details to follow. We appreciate all of your kind words and thoughtfulness. See you down the trail, Al. Albert greatly appreciated these organizations if you would like to donate: Trust for Public Lands National Forest Foundation National Public Radio Population Connection Or a charity of your choice. Photo credit: Kristen Binder