Duane D. Becker

Duane Douglas Becker, 81, passed into the waiting arms of Jesus on October 17, 2026, after courageously fighting a long battle with esophageal cancer. He passed peacefully at home, surrounded by his loving wife and family.

Duane was born at McPherson Memorial Hospital, McPherson, KS, on April 24, 1945, to Lincoln Becker and Martha (Becker) Becker. Duane lived first in McPherson before his family moved to a farm southwest of Marquette. He attended Eden Prairie Grade School and graduated from Marquette High School. Duane proudly played on the 1960 Marquette High School football team, recognized at the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame for an undefeated season in which they were completely unscored upon. Growing up on the farm, he helped with most of the farm work while his dad ran a lumberyard and construction crew, which he later joined for 10 years. After high school, Duane joined the Kansas National Guard. His unit was activated into the United States Army and stationed at Fort Carson, Colorado, where he served in the tank division of the armored cavalry. He was blessed to not be deployed to Vietnam. He applied and was accepted as one of the 4 original supervisors to the brand-new Johns Manville factory in McPherson, and retired after 36 years.

Duane was adventurous and always up for something new, which sometimes got him into mischief, but he was kind to his siblings. He was brave, and the quality carried through his illness. Duane was proud of his country, family, and faith. An outdoorsman, he enjoyed hunting, motorcycle riding, 4-wheeling in the sand dunes of Waynoka, Oklahoma, boating, fishing, and camping with his wife and family, and seeing God’s hand in nature. He cut firewood to keep the house cozy for more than 30 years, enjoyed woodworking, and built innovative things. Duane believed in doing things right and using the right tool for the job: on one memorable occasion, a splitting maul became the right tool for a lawn mower. Duane was intelligent and never had to study much; he just got IT. He was an avid learner and YouTube watcher, loved good food and sweets, and was always willing to lend a hand to family, friends, neighbors, and church.

Duane and Reba (Becker) Becker were married on October 27, 1979. Having no children (not by choice), they especially loved spending time with their great-nephews Carter, Cassden, Clayten, and Cannan. Together they drew blueprints and built their earth-bermed home in Lindsborg, moving in in 1983 after two and a half years of work. For almost 47 years, they shared all of the joys of married life.

In 2009, Duane and Reba made Countryside Covenant Church their home after both hearing God’s call upon their lives to devote their lives intent on Him.

Duane fiercely loved his family and is survived by his wife Reba of Lindsborg; sisters Cheryl (Becker) Becker Cook of Lindsborg and Debbie (Becker) Ward of McPherson; brother Daryl and Shari (Allison) Becker of McPherson; sisters-in-law Stephanie Becker (Eric Peterson) of Olathe and Denise Becker of Canton; brother-in-law Justin Becker of Canton; nephews Kyle (Teresa) Ward of Tahlequah, OK, Matt (Jonna) Ward of Chico, TX, Mindy (Ward) Guerroro of Yukon, OK, Toby Becker, and Luke Sanders; nieces Megan Becker of Salina, and Monica (Seth) Diederich of Canton; and numerous great-nephews and nieces.

The family will receive friends from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM, Wednesday, October 28, 2026, at Stockham Family Funeral Home. The funeral service will be held at 10:00 AM, Thursday, October 29, at Countryside Covenant Church with Rev. Jon Black officiating. Burial with Military Honors will follow the service at Canton Township Cemetery.  To view a live stream broadcast of the service, PLEASE CLICK HERE.

Memorial donations are suggested to Countryside Covenant Church or American Cancer Society in care of Stockham Family Funeral Home, 205 North Chestnut, McPherson, KS 67460.