Bernadette "BB" Becker

Bernadette "BB" Becker, 87, of Lansing, IA, died Friday, August 8, 2025, at Thornton Manor in Lansing. Funeral services will be held Thursday, August 14th, at 11:00 AM at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Lansing with Fr. Joseph Sevcik officiating. Burial will follow at Gethsemane Cemetery in Lansing. Friends may greet the family from 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM Wednesday at Thornburg - Grau Funeral Home in Lansing, where there will be a 6:30 PM scripture service, and also starting at 10:00 AM until the time of services at church.

Bernadette "BB" Becker was born March 1, 1938, the "SEVENTH" of ten children to Joseph and Julia (Blake) Mauss. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Mary's Lycurgus Catholic Church in rural Waukon, IA. Bernadette grew up on a farm near New Albin, along the Upper Iowa River, and attended school in New Albin through 11th grade; she and her family then moved to Dyersville, IA, where she graduated from Xavier High School. After moving back to Allamakee County, Bernadette lived north of Lansing, along the Mississippi River. On November 23, 1957, Bernadette married Aloysius John Becker at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Lansing. They made their home in rural Lansing before Bernadette moved into town in 2017 and then to Thornton Manor in 2024. In 1977, she became one of the first CNAs for Thornton Manor, working until her retirement in 1999.

If anyone could be called a social butterfly, it would be Bernadette. She loved playing euchre with her long time Card Club, her Bridge club, bowling, helping with bingo at Thornton Manor, and going to dances with her husband at Rainbow Gardens, Matter's Ballroom, The Avalon, and the Concordia Ballroom. She was an active parishioner at Immaculate Conception Church and volunteered for many other activities, including being a Cub Scout Leader. Rain or shine, Bernadette loved watching parades, even if it only consisted of two vehicles and a float. She was also queen of pull tabs and scratch tickets; winners only, of course. BB was bound to be lucky from the start being the SEVENTH child, with SEVEN sisters, so SEVEN soon became her favorite number. Those of you who have been "lucky" enough to hear her "SEVEN STORY" will know this well!

She is survived by her "SEVEN" children: Dave (Karen) Becker of La Crescent, MN, Barb (Dan) Bulman of La Crescent MN, Darryl (Donna Magtibay) Becker of Rochester, MN, Kerry (Jody) Becker of Highland, IL, Tim (Kris) Becker of Lansing, Sus (Ron) Herman of Waukon, and Brian (Jen) Becker of Van Meter, IA; grandchildren: Danielle, Jeff (Maryam), and Kaite Becker, Abby (Chad) Welsh, John (Hailey) and Anthony Becker, Matt (Alyssa) and Ally Becker, Michael Becker, Sydney and Samantha Herman, and Nathan and Blake Becker; five step-grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; five step-great-grandchildren; and her brothers and sisters: Joan Welper, Shirley Colsch, John (Mary Lou) Mauss, Jim (Carol) Mauss, and Maureen (Orville) Strothman.

Bernadette was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Allie in 1992; her sisters: Sister Mary Bernard Mauss, Betty Burke, Dorothy Welper, and Kathleen Becker; and brothers-in-law: Harold Welper, Ray Burke, Merle Welper, Harold "Ike" Colsch, and Joe Becker.

Honorary casketbearers are Essie Welsh, Kay Mettille, Dianna Schwartzhoff, Eloise Reed, Mary Kernan, Sharon Costello, Marilyn Schorr, and Bernadette's granddaughters. Her grandsons will serve as casketbearers.

Bernadette's family sends a special thank you to all the staff at Thornton Manor Care Center and all the visitors who stopped in to sign her guest book, keep her up to date on news, and share a joke. It meant the world to her and the family. AND in the words of BB, "Goodbye and God Bless!"

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