Velma Louise Becker

Velma Louise Becker was born on March 24, 1926 in Bristow, Oklahoma to Charles and Eva Louise Fletcher. She was the youngest of eight children. She grew up in Oklahoma and Louisiana. Velma moved with her parents to Midland, Texas in 1945. She married Rev. Gilbert Becker on October 7, 1946 in Jennings, Louisiana. They made their home in Midland, Texas where he served as the Minister of Grace Lutheran Church. They moved to Bartlesville, Oklahoma in 1953. She was the mother of four children; Jonathan and his wife, Patricia of Ft. Worth, Texas; Ellen and her husband Rev. Clyde Kieschnick of Abilene, Texas; Carla and her husband Cary Stelmachowicz of Fredonia, Wisconsin, and one son, Daniel, died in 1969. Velma spent most of her time rearing the four children. She also taught Sunday school, directed the children's choir, high school choir and sang in the adult choir of Redeemer Lutheran Church. After the children were grown, Velma was employed by Cities Service Oil Company, by Memorial Hospital, and as office manager for two physicians. She also served as a Hospice volunteer for 14 years. She moved with her husband to Abilene in 2006 where they were members of Zion Lutheran Church. She is survived by her husband, three children and their spouses, ten grandchildren, seven great -grandchildren and a twin sister, Thelma Portie of Springfield, Missouri. Funeral Services will be held at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, Tuesday, July 1, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. with Rev. Mark Carter officiating, directed by Stumpff Funeral Home of Bartlesville, Oklahoma. Local Arrangements were handled by The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road, Abilene, Texas. Memorials in honor of Velma may be sent to Hospice of the Big Country, The Lutheran Hour or Zion Lutheran Church of Abilene, Texas.