Reverend Richard Francis Joseph Becker, Jr. 69, a Priest of the Diocese of Pueblo, passed away Monday, February 27, 2017 in Denver, Colorado.
Father Becker was born on September 8, 1947 in Saint Louis, Missouri to Richard F. Becker, Sr. and Minerva B. (Oberle) Becker.
Father Becker was ordained on November 25, 1972 at his home parish in Ste. Genevieve, Missouri, by the Most Reverend Joseph V. Sullivan. He began as Assistant Pastor of Saint Joseph Parish in Capulin on December 2, 1972, was appointed Administrator of St. Joseph in 1975, and Pastor of that same parish in 1980. He began service as Director of the Office for Propagation of the Faith in 1982; followed by appointment as Rector of the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in 1983. From July 1993 – July 2006, Father Becker served as Pastor of Saint Joseph Parish, Pueblo, and St. Therese Parish in Vineland. In addition to his responsibilities at St. Joseph and St. Therese, Father Becker was appointed Pastor of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish, Pueblo from October 2001- 2005. From 2006 – 2012, Father Becker served as Pastor of Holy Trinity Parish, Trinidad and its missions. On September 1, 2014, Father Becker retired from active ministry but continued his ministry with his Parish family in Trinidad. During his tenure with the Diocese of Pueblo, Father Becker proudly served as Moderator for the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women and Diocesan representative with a number of Catholic Organizations, Boards, and Committees.
Preceding him in death is father Richard F. Becker Sr., brother Larry Becker and sister Debbie Egler.
He is survived by his mother, Minerva Becker of Walsenburg, CO, sisters, Andrea (Curt) Woolgar, Menasha, WI, and Marsha (Cary)Woolgar, Phoenix, AZ., nieces, nephews, friends, as well as his fellow priests, sisters and deacons of the Pueblo Diocese.
All services will be held in Trinidad, Colorado.
Visitation will be held 2PM. – 4PM. Tuesday, March 7, 2017 at Comi Funeral Home,
with the Rosary at Holy Trinity Church beginning at 7PM. Tuesday evening.
Funeral Mass will be celebrated Wednesday, March 8 at 10PM at Holy Trinity Church (235 North Convent Street, Trinidad, Colorado).
Interment will follow at the Trinidad Catholic Cemetery.
Honorary and active pallbearers are members of the Knights of Columbus. Council 1072 and the Priests of the Diocese of Pueblo.
In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests donations be made to The Holy Trinity Restoration Fund, 235 N. Convent Street, Trinidad, CO, 81082.
Arrangements made under the direction of the Comi Funeral Home.
