January 7 1921 October 21 2019
Irma’s Obituary Irma Becker January 7, 1921 – October 21, 2019 Irma was born in 1921 to Lydia Haarala Ahola and Emil Ahola. Her childhood and adolescent years were spent in Virginia, Minnesota, in the Iron Range area. Attending school with children of varied nationalities and cultural backgrounds, Irma was bilingual in Finnish and English from an early age. Irma’s interests in school included music, extemporaneous speaking, and journalism. She played the ‘cello in both the school and civic orchestras, and was a soloist for school, church and community events. Irma competed at state and national levels in public speaking. Graduating from Virginia High School as Valedictorian, Irma attended Virginia Junior College. She completed her Bachelor of Music Education degree with a minor in Speech at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, where she was a member of Kappa Delta. Following her graduation, Irma taught in Hobart, Indiana, then was recruited to join the faculty at Northeast Junior College in Monroe, Louisiana. Chasing a dream, Irma moved to New York City in 1945 to study singing. She supported herself by working in personnel at Macy’s on Flatbush Avenue. Irma’s singing teacher decided that the lovely young singer from Minnesota should meet the handsome young singer from Wisconsin; thus Irma was introduced to Lance Becker. They were married in 1948 and continued their life in New York, starting life together in a 5th floor walk-up cold water flat. Irma and Lance moved to Minneapolis, where their three children were born. A change in Lance’s career took them to the Chicago area, where Irma took night classes and earned her Master’s Degree in Guidance Counseling from Loyola University. The Becker family moved west to Rapid City, South Dakota in 1966. Irma became a counselor in the Rapid City Public School System. She served at both the elementary and junior high levels, retiring from West Junior High in 1984. During her professional years, she earned an additional 30 postgraduate credit hours and certification in specialties for testing and evaluation of academic concerns. After retirement, Irma worked for the State of South Dakota, visiting home schools to evaluate the academic content of the instruction given. In the community, Irma served on the board of the Black Hills Chamber Music Society and was a member of the Rapid City Symphony League. She was a long-time member of PEO, American Association of University Women, Delta Kappa Gamma, and League of Women Voters. Irma was a circle member of First Congregational Church, served on the altar guild, and sang in the choir until age 91. As volunteers, Irma and Lance donated time and talents to Habitat for Humanity, South Dakota Federation for the Blind, and the South Dakota Democratic Party. Great cooks and lovers of people of all ages, Irma and Lance opened their home and hearts to many. They served as host family to foreign students studying in America, both in Chicago and in Rapid City. Many evenings and holidays were spent with family and friends in lively discussions around the table. Irma’s broad network of friends included persons of all ethnicities, religions, and lifestyles. Irma was predeceased by her brothers Dr. Kenneth Ahola and Robert Peter Ahola, husband Lance, and grandson Paul Smith. She will be greatly missed by her daughter Lisa Smith with husband David Smith of Virginia Beach, VA; son Lance Becker of Burke, VA; daughter Jane Becker of Houston, TX; grand-daughter Laura Jolly and husband Kenny of Virginia Beach, VA; and great-grandson Aiden Jolly. Extended family survivors include sisters-in-law Helen Ahola of Minneapolis and Twilla Ann Ahola of Virginia; Minnesota; Bill and Dorothy Arockiasamy of Minneapolis with children Anita Wills and Anand Arockiasamy; and Anne Decomble of France. Many nieces and nephews and their families share in the loss of her passing. A celebration of life memorial service is planned for June. In preparation, memories of Irma can be sent to Jane Becker, jbeckermusic@gmail.com. Read More
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Irma Elizabeth Becker January 7 1921 October 21 2019.
Death notice for the town of: New York, state: New York