Milton Becker

IRON MOUNTAIN - Milton G. Becker, 88, of Breitung Township and Florida, passed away at his winter home in Riviera Beach, Fla. on Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2007. He was born Nov. 23, 1918, in Iron Mountain, and was adopted in his infancy by Florence and Arnold Becker. He attended the Deer Lake School, the Twin Falls school, and graduated from Kingsford High School in 1936. While attending Kingsford, he participated in football and track, was a member of the student council and the National Honor Society. He graduated from Western Michigan University in 1941. He met his future wife June (Luba) at this time and they spent 64 wonderful years together. She preceded him in death in January 2006. He accepted a teaching and coaching position at Crystal Falls, which was interrupted by World War II. He served in the ITO while attached to the 28th Infantry Division, seeing action from St. Lo to beyond the Rhine. He returned to his teaching/coaching position from 1946-1948. Milt served as sanitarian for the Dickinson-Iron Health Department for almost 14 years in the 1950s and 1960s. In the meantime as a pastime, he operated the Hiawathaland Scenic River Cruise on the Menominee River and served a term as president of the Dickinson County Tourist Association In 1969. He was employed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as a district director, serving the U.P. He retired from this position in 1981. From 1966-1969, he was employed by William and Bros Co. as a right-of-way agent during the construction of a natural gas pipeline from Calgary to Toronto via Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan. Milt and June spent the next 25 winters in Riviera Beach and the summers at their cottage on Spring Lake. He is survived by three children, Wayne (Mary Beth) of Durham, N.C., Kay SanMiguel of Wrightstown, Wis., and Ann Sims (David) of Satellite Beach, Fla.; seven grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren; a brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Clyde and Lorrain Luba of Kingsford; a brother-in-law, Edward Luba of Orland, Calif.; a special niece and nephew, Robert and Moira Cowling of Spring Lake as well as very special friends, Douglas and Gloria Sleik. There will be no visitation or funeral services. Internment will be in Cemetery Park in Iron Mountain. Condolences to the family of Milton Becker may be expressed online at www.ernashfuneralhomes.com The Erickson-Rochon and Nash Funeral Home of Iron Mountain has been entrusted with the funeral arrangements.

Milton Becker

October 16, 1919 - October 16, 2007