Tom Becker passed away January 24th, 2019 in Portland, Oregon. He was born in Brule, Nebraska on December 29, 1924 to Andrew H. and Emma L. Becker. Tom’s family moved from Nebraska to Onalaska , WA in 1930 at the height of the depression.
He joined the US Coast Guard in 1942, and attended MIT where he was selected to be in the first Radio Engineering class for Long Range Navigation, developed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. During World War two Tom served as chief engineer in charge of construction of the Master Loran Station near Cape Canaveral Florida, Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, and the Luzon Part of the Northern Philippines. He married Silvia Bisi from Lompoc Califomia, May 12, 1946, they were married 40 years.
Together they had ten children. All ten were college graduates, 8 from Oregon State University, one from University of Oregon and one from University of Portland. Silvia passed away in 1986 from cancer.
Tom & Silvia were very fond and supportive of their ten children. Together the family enjoyed holidays at Breitenbush, Oregon, Timberline Lodge on Mount Hood, Canada, Hawaii and Palm Springs, California. They also enjoyed camping at Tumalo State Park in Bend, Oregon.
In 1948, after World War Two, Tom built and operated Radio Station KNPT until he sold it in 1979. MO Niemi, of MO’s Restaurants worked with Tom from the day the station opened until it sold. Tom was involved with MO and MO’s Restaurants, and was president and major stockholder of Newport Pacific Corp, owner of the MO’s Restaurants in Lincoln City, Florence, Cannon Beach and Oregon Oyster Farms for 35 years.
Tom was President of the Oregon Coast Association which promoted the building and construction of the Astoria Bridge in 1958, with Senator Andrew Naterline of Newport. He was President of the Oregon Association of Broadcasters in 1968 and 1969. He was a board member of the Oregon State University Foundation and the Oregon State Beaver Club for several years.
He was instrumental in the start and development of the Undersea Gardens in Newport, the OSU Marine Science Center (where in 1981 he persuaded the Port of Newport into leasing 80 acres to OSU), and he put up $5,000. 00 for the initial feasibility study for the successful Oregon Coast Aquarium. He was a charter member of the Newport Elks Lodge, and president of the Newport Chamber of commerce twice.
Tom was also a member of the Newport Rotary Club. Tom was an avid golfer, and also enjoyed swimming, and snow skiing. After Silvia’s death in 1986, he married Shirley Keudell in 1988, they were married in Stayton, Oregon and lived on Keudell Farms in Aumsville, Oregon for 27 years.
and traveled world wide for several months each year. Together Tom and Shirley have 43 grandchildren all college graduates and 33 great grandchildren. after their marriage, Tom and Shirley traveled extensively all over the world, 10 Cruises.
and many foreign tours. They both enjoyed traveling. Being Faithful Catholics, they visited Medjugorje one of their favorite destinations for three weeks where over 90 million pilgrims have visited since 1981.
They took baths in the holy water at Lourdes, They observed at least 10 bodies of the more than 250 catholic saints that are Incorupt… They attended mass in Dubrovnik where the body of St. Blaise lays fully in tact since the fourth century. They also attended the shrines in Santiago De Composstela Cathedral in Spain, Britannia , Jerusalem, Rome, the Black Madonna Shrine in Hungary. and climbed Mt.
Sinai. . They observed three absolute miracles.
Tom is survived by his wife Shirley Becker of Salem, Oregon and His nine children. Tom Becker(Maureen), Medford, Oregon. John Becker(Jan) , Newport, Oregon.
Tim Becker(Kimberly) Tigard, Oregon Jim Becker (Sally) Walnut Creek, CA Mary Nolan(Tim) Fremont, Ca Anne Jantzi (Doug) Medford, Oregon Jean Hilary(Jerry) Portland, Oregon Margaret Grimsted (Brian) Vancouver, WA Rose Reynolds (Pete) Newport, Beach, CA Michael Becker deceased (Trina), Lake Forest , ca He also is survived by 27 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren. He is also survived by Shirley who has a serious case of Alzheimer’s and 6 children. Paula Smith(Royce), Allan Keudell(Patti), Larry Keudell (Janice), Names to be printed questionable Steve Keudell(Sharon), Ron Keudell (Kimberly), Craig KeudelI(KelIy).
Tom was preceded in death by his brother James Becker and his sister Grace Conley. Mass will be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church starting at 10:00AM Saturday 2/2. The burial will be at Eureka Cemetery In Newport,.
A reception will be held afterwards at the Church,where the family looks forward to sharing memories of Tom Donations can be made to the Michael Paul Becker scholarship fund at Newport High School or the Becker-Keudell Scholarship fund at Regis High School in Stayton, Oregon. Donations may be made to: Scholarship Foundation Fund 1121 SE Spruce Way, Newport OR 97365 Tel: 1-541-265-6867 Email: rotarycarol@gmail.com Web: www. lincf.org/current-managed-funds.
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