Frances M. Becker, 94, of Turton, died Sunday, March 8, 2015 at Avera Mother Joseph Manor in Aberdeen. Mass of Christian Burial will be Friday, March 13, 2015 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Turton. Father Mike Kelly will celebrate the mass. Burial will be in St. Joseph's Cemetery in Turton. Visitation will be Thursday from 1-5:00 p.m. at Thelen Funeral Home, with a rosary at 7:00 p.m. at the church. www.thelenfuneralhome.com

Frances was born to Mathias and Frances (Retterath-Halfman) Thome on June 10, 1920 on the Thelen farm in Sumner Township. She attended grade school at the Convent until it burned in 1932. She finished her grade school classes in Turton and Olean Township. Frances graduated from Turton High School in 1938. That summer she was hired for part-time work with the government AAA office. She was then hired full time at the end of that summer and continued with that office until the fall of 1944.

Frances married Vincent Becker on February 7, 1945 in Turton, SD. They bought a farm in Sumner Township where he had lived with his father, John Becker. Seven children were born of this union. Vincent passed away after a surgery on July 1, 1957. Frances and children continued to live on the family farm, having a farm auction and disposing of all machinery and cattle in the fall of 1957. The land was put into the government soil bank program.

In the fall of 1957, Frances bought a house in Turton and moved her family into Turton the spring of 1958. In 1963, she began employment at Farmers State Bank of Turton and continued working until retiring at the end of 1985.

Frances was very devoted to her children and their families. Frances was a member of the St Joseph's Catholic Church; St Joseph's Altar Society; Catholic Daughters of America; and the Turton VFW Auxiliary. She was in charge of the mass collection for over 35 years and cared for the altar linens. She was also a member of St Joseph's Catholic Church choir.

Her passions included restoration of religious statues; baking with grandchildren; reading a good book; Twins games; gardening; canning of fruit and vegetables; sewing; taking photos; and was known for being the last one out of church because of visiting with friends.

Grateful to have shared Frances' life are her children; Kay (Maurice "Cobb") Britten of Groom, TX; Joan (William) Whites of Iroquois, SD; James (Alina) Becker of Turton, SD; Ann (Jeff) Andrews of Aberdeen, SD; Paul (Joan) Becker of Dillon, CO; Bonnie Becker of Aberdeen, SD; William (special friend, Anna) Becker of Rapid City, SD. Fourteen grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; one brother, Joe Thome; one sister, Ann Barrie; two half-brothers Fred Halfman and Frank Halfman; and one half-sister, Mary Klapperich.