Jack's Obituary
Jackie “Jack” Arlyn Becker, age 78, passed away peacefully on December 21, 2022, at The Azalea Place in Great Falls after many years of declining health. He was preceded in death by his father, Tayfield Becker; mother, Evalyn Renk; sister, LaVonne Kellogg; and his longtime partner, Betty Reiquam.
Jack was born in Great Falls on April 26, 1944, and grew up on the Bench and in Fairfield. His father tragically drowned in 1946, and the family moved to Dutton in 1951 where he began the second grade. His hero was his big brother, Ron, and remained so long after Jack outgrew him in height and size. Together with his sisters, LaVonne and Sharon, he came of age in Dutton, living on the Hemstad property east of town for much of the time. At Dutton High School, Jack competed for the Cardinals in football, basketball, and track, advancing to state multiple times in basketball and track while coached by Bill Connors. For the rest of his life, he would recall with immense pride and fondness the relationships and experiences representing Dutton, including upset wins in basketball over Big Sandy and Denton at divisionals, and setting school records in relays and especially the pole vault, one which remained for nearly 40 years. He was so proud to be a Dutton Cardinal.
Jack graduated in 1962, and attended Kinman Business University in Spokane, Washington, forming lifelong friendships with his roommates. He returned to Dutton in 1964, before moving to Los Angeles, where he “worked and played” while maintaining a healthy diet of chicken pot pies and beer, in no particular order. He learned a few trades, picked up golf, and enjoyed the California sun with his buddies. He put his foot down, however, when the price of haircuts doubled overnight. “I revolted,” and his hair grew with the times.
His draft number was called in 1965, but his physical examination revealed he was suffering from kidney disease. “Go see a nephrologist,” he was told. He returned home in 1969 ,and enrolled at the University of Montana. One day at the University Center he recognized a beautiful woman from Dutton, Gail Aaberge, and he began to court her to the music of Bob Dylan, among other strategies. Gail graduated and took a teaching job in California, while Jack moved back to Dutton and joined the carpenters’ union. They reunited in Dutton and married on June 22, 1974, at the Aaberge residence on the Teton Valley Ranch.
In 1977, Jack opened Becker Insurance Agency on Main Street. “I walked in cold turkey” to the insurance business while gutting, restoring, and expanding the old post office building. Representing Farmers Insurance, he provided hail, auto, homeowners, and life insurance during five decades before selling his business to Pioneer Insurance. He earned a reputation for honest work and trustworthy service to his customers, all of whom he considered friends and neighbors. He loved having people stop in his office throughout the day to visit.
He served the town of Dutton in many membership positions: the Dutton Town Council, Lions Club (later the Dutton Civic Club), Dutton Volunteer Fire Department, Bethany Lutheran Church Council, Sunshine Trail Lodge Board, and the Dutton Centennial History Committee. He also served on the Choteau Country Club Board for many years. His knowledge of Dutton and its history was extensive, and he thoroughly enjoyed sharing detailed stories about the Dutton community.
Jack and Gail raised three children, whom he loved dearly. They owned and remodeled two houses in Dutton, working in jeans, a white t-shirt, toolbelt, and his steel-toed Red Wing boots as he utilized his construction skills to improve their homes. He loved pets, and therefore cats and dogs were valued members of the Becker households. When he was not at the office or wearing his toolbelt, he could be found on the golf course with friends. Choteau was the regular destination, though he frequented courses across north central Montana, often with his kids in tow. He loved music and played several instruments, namely the harmonica and banjo. Open a drawer in his desk, dresser, or nightstand, and one would surely find at least one harmonica (and a pocketknife). So long as his family would tolerate it, he would play everything from Leon Redbone to the Irish Rovers on his reel-to-reel stereo. He had a wonderful voice and loved to sing at church, choir groups, and with friends. He was also an excellent writer and would compose beautiful and thoughtful letters to friends and family. Wherever he was, Jack befriended people with his kind nature and warm, gentle heart. He enjoyed striking up conversations on the golf course, at restaurants, on airplanes or trains, and didn’t think twice about giving hitchhikers a lift.
His marriage to Gail ended in 1991, though they maintained a strong relationship and always put their children before themselves. His kidney disease progressed and in 1993 he received a transplant which lasted the rest of his life despite the initial prognosis of 20 years, at most. Health issues related to his kidney would continue from side effects of the anti-rejection medications. He would eventually persevere through major back surgery, two hip replacements, colon surgery which revealed an aortic aneurysm, and countless procedures to remove skin cancer spots.
In 1995, Jack and Betty Reiquam began a loving companionship which would last until her passing in 2021. They lived on the Reiquam ranch northwest of Dutton, where they redecorated nearly every room together and cherished the serene landscape overlooking the Teton River. Jack loved an afternoon spent cooking with a nice glass of wine or a cocktail. Favorites included bean soup, minestrone, gumbo, jambalaya, meatballs and gravy, followed by a relaxing evening on the deck. When told that bean soup was not the wisest choice given his health issues, he replied, “I’d rather die than give up bean soup.”
As partners, Jack and Betty attended Cat/Griz games, went on cruises, and traveled across the country, frequenting Nevada and Arizona, often traveling with friends. Eventually, they moved to Great Falls before declining health necessitated assisted living. Jack was cared for at The Azalea Place for the last two years of his life.
Survivors include his children, Tyrone, Bart (Olga), and Erikka (Anthony) Ferrara; siblings, Ron (Karen), and Sharon (Alan) Meeks; his former wife, Gail; six grandchildren, Eli, Ayden, Ania, Maksim, Eme and Evelyn; many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews; members of the Reiquam family; and a lifetime of cherished and dear friends.
Jack was loved and will be greatly missed by all who knew him; we take comfort knowing he is now in heaven. A funeral service and celebration of life will be scheduled later this spring or early summer at Bethany Lutheran Church in Dutton. In lieu of flowers, we ask for donations in Jack’s memory be made to The Farm and the Dell - Rocky Mountain Front, or Bethany Lutheran Church.
