Delores Yvonne “Dee” (Peterson) Becker passed away on April 12, 2025 at the age of 95.

She was born on August 26, 1929, in Turtle Lake, North Dakota. She attended high school in Stevens Point, WI, and graduated from the University of Minnesota-Rochester School of Nursing. Dee’s nursing career included working at the Dane County Hospital and Home and the Veterans Hospital in Madison.

On December 9, 1950, she married Merlin “Dutch” Becker. They settled in Verona to raise their four children. Dee enjoyed playing cards, bowling, camping, square dancing, the Red Hatters volunteering at community blood drives and travelling. She and Dutch visited most states, with multiple trips to Hawaii and California. They took several cruises and travelled to Europe and Russia. They also had the unique honor of square dancing on a flatbed trailer in the Verona Hometown parade.

Family was first for mom, and she was always there for her children. When she thought someone complained too much her standard reply was “Me thinks thou doth protest too much”, a gentle reminder that we had it better than most, and certainly better than her as she endured the effects of the Dust Bowl, Great Depression and World War II.

In her later years, mom mastered the art of “being content”, rarely complaining of the issues and pains of advanced age and always having a smile on her face, especially when sipping a chocolate Culver’s shake or a glass of red wine.

Dee was predeceased by Dutch, her husband of 71 years, her sisters Prudence Posey and Beverly Peterson, brother Larry Holtan, brother-in-law Thomas Posey and son-in-law Howard Orloff. She is survived by her children Corinne Orloff, Bruce (Barb) Becker, Barth (Ruth) Becker and Cheryl (Randy) Michaels, brother Darrell Holtan, sister-in-law Lila Holtan, nine grandchildren, nine great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.

We would like to thank our sister Corinne for taking such great, loving care of mom these last few years. Her compassion, kindness and dedication to our mother demonstrated her special heart and made mom’s final years comfortable and dignified. Thanks to Agrace for their wonderful support. Memorials may be made to Agrace or a charity of your choice.

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, April 24, 2025 at St. James Lutheran Church in Verona. Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service on Thursday at the church. The service will be followed by a lunch at the church and interment at the Verona Cemetery.

To view her obituary or leave a memory, please visit: www.ryanfuneralservice.com .

Delores Becker

August 26, 1929 - April 12, 2025

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