Dorothy Becker

Dorothy Ann Becker, 71, of Ames and formerly of Atlantic, Iowa, passed away Thursday, June 20, 2013, in Ames, Iowa, after a two year battle with cancer.

Dorothy Ann Kragelund was born in Atlantic, Iowa, on August 15, 1941, to Oliver Earnest Kragelund and Verna (Porter) Kragelund. She grew up on a farm north of Atlantic. Dorothy attended country school as a young girl and was a member of the Atlantic High School class of 1958.

On August 1, 1965, she was united in marriage to Fredrick J. "Ted" Becker. Shortly thereafter, Dorothy adopted Ted's three children. Together Dorothy and Ted adopted eight additional children.


She spent most of her life being a mother and nurturer to her eleven children. Dorothy's other interests included gardening, time in the sun, playing bridge, attending kid's events, coffee with neighbors and sewing. She would regularly have a houseful of her children's friends and neighborhood children. Dorothy also spent considerable time assisting other families in the Atlantic area with the adoption process.

Dorothy moved to Ankeny, Iowa, in 1986. While in Ankeny, she worked at Business Publications, The Baby Store and the Iowa Heart Center. In 1996 she moved to Florida and then spent two years in New Jersey before returning to Florida. In 2011, she relocated to Ames, Iowa.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Ted Becker; mother-in-law, Emma Lewis Becker; brother-in-law, Bob Becker; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Bill and Isabel Donnelly; aunts, Imo (Walt) Lilienthal, Gretchen Porter and Elaine Nelson; and uncles, Donald Kragelund and George and Floyd Porter.

Dorothy is survived by her children, Steve Becker of Nevada, IA, Beth (Dan) Meyer of Gilbert, IA, Jeff (Sharon) Becker of Ames, IA, Cammy Sims of Pompano Beach, FL , Trenton "Nip" (Tina) Becker of Gilbert, IA, Treynor "Tuck" (Carrie) Becker of Charles City, IA, Tiffany Becker of Boca Raton, FL, Trimble Becker of Washington, D.C., K.C. Becker of West Palm Beach, FL, Benton Becker of West Palm Beach, FL, and Coey Becker of Washington, D.C.; her grandchildren, Mindan Lytle, Mikade Meyer, Dani Meyer, Bret Meyer, Cairo Sims, Storm Sims, Andrea Becker, Zach Becker, Quintin Becker, Madison Becker, Tyler Canine, Joseph Becker, Katherine Becker, Hannah Becker, Isaac Becker and Darian Becker; three great-grandchildren, Journey Lytle, Zane Lytle and Tyzha Clark; her sister, Donnis (Walt) Blake of Norwalk, IA; and her brother, Bill (Marsha) Kragelund of Anita, IA.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, June 27, 2013, at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Atlantic, Iowa. There is no scheduled visitation. A private interment of ashes will be held at a later date.


In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorials to Israel Hospice or the Hope Pregnancy Center.

Hockenberry Family Care Funeral Home in Atlantic, Iowa, is in charge of the arrangements