RAPID CITYCurtis Allen Becker was born July 25, 1928 in Mobridge, South Dakota, and died in Rapid City on Saturday, April 17, 2010. His German grandparents on both sides had immigrated to Russia when Katherine the Great offered land, and amnesty from armed service, to the Germans people. After her death, these conditions were withdrawn and in the mass exodus that followed, the two families came to the United States and on to the farmlands in South Dakota. Curt's father, Alvin, met and married Martha, (Sally) Bollinger, and they settled in Mobridge. There Curt, and his two younger sisters, was born. The family moved to Scotland, then Tyndall, starting bigger and better restaurants. Curt became an accomplished French horn player. He passed his love for the horn on to his younger sister, and she considers this a great gift. Through high school and college he played in school bands and even after graduation he played in municipal bands for many years. The family moved to Aberdeen in 1946 where Curt's father owned and operated the Harbor Cafe and Curt worked and the whole family grew up in the restaurants, where they worked hard and long. He learned the business from every aspect which gave him the knowledge and skills to become a successful restaurant operator later. In 1946 Curt joined the Army and served his country with pride. During a tour in Germany, he worked as a Chaplin's assistant. Here he had an opportunity to research his family's background and to locate and meet some of the family's relatives. Curt graduated from Northern State College in Aberdeen and married Ida Fredrick, carrying on the tradition of his family. Curt and Ida had three children, a boy and two girls While other avenues held great interest to him, Curt was always his father's son and he agreed to work with his father when Al opened The Chuck Wagon Restaurant in Rapid City. There Curt, Ida, Al and Sally successfully operated this popular restaurant and became part of each customer's family, figuring the served over a million people in a ten year period, and it was only open in the summer months. After Al and Sally retired. Curt and Ida moved to Mobridge for a time and again successfully built another restaurant business, the Silver Grill. But with the children and grandchildren in Rapid City, they returned. Ida died in 2003 and while Curt always said it was Ida that didn't want to travel, when she left him, he too preferred to stay at home. He was a great fisherman and hunter. South Dakota always called and each season brought to Curt another sport or activity. His garden was famous-his hunting and fishing skills well known. He was a humbling card player and was known to be able to count four decks. Curt was the family's memory bank. He remembered the details of the family history from its beginnings in Russia, the passage over on the ship, when family members were born and when they died. He remembered names and minute details of the entire family's life. This will be a great loss. During the last years, as his life became more difficult, he especially appreciated all the love and time that his friends gave to him to help make his days easier and happier. He spoke often about this. Curt loved to tell jokes and had a huge repertoire. He loved watching sports and knew everything about every player. He loved people and laughing and his dog Oscar. But mostly he loved his family and they loved him. Curt was also very active in the Shriners and Shriner's Band over the years and recently received his 60 year pin. Curt is survived by his children, Glenn Becker, Kathy Becker and Cindy Wasson; all of Rapid City; his two sisters, Arlie Graham, Frederick, MD and Bonnie (John) Cacavas, Beverly Hills, CA, and their children; 5 grandchildren, Mike (Michelle) Sartorius, Rapid City, Angie (Allen) Gyles, Rapid City, Holly (Chris) Sorenson, Phoenix, AZ, Adam Wasson, Twenty-Nine Palms, CA and Audra Wasson, Phoenix, AZ and 6 great grandchildren. They all send him on his way with their love. Visitation will be Sunday, April 25, from 2 until 4 p.m., with Masonic Rites at 4:00 p.m. at Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home. Services will be at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, April 26, at South Canyon Lutheran Church with Rev. Christopher Baesler officiating. Burial, with military honors provided by Rushmore VFW Post 1273 and the South Dakota Army National Guard, will follow in Black Hills National Cemetery.