Sandy Becker Wake

Introduction

2 Corinthians 5:1 KJV 1900

1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

Body

Analogy of vehicles

We’re here tonight to honor the memory of Sandy Becker

We have with us her earthly remains. This isn’t Sandy. It’s the vehicle she drove around in

Sandy is gone on into eternity, her time on this earth is concluded.

But Sandy herself is not dead. Her vehicle is expired, but she is alive, and will be for all eternity

From Adam to the present, everyone has suffered, and everyone had died

Everyone is born into the world

Everyone lives out their lives, we hope, we pray that those lives are blessed and joyous lives

And everyone concludes their life here on earth, and goes on into eternity

We are spirits. That bodies should be lent us while they afford us pleasure, assist us in acquiring knowledge or in doing good to our fellow-creatures, is a kind of benevolent act of God. When they become unfit for these purposes and afford us pain instead of pleasure, instead of an aid become an encumbrance and answer none of these intentions for which they were given, it is equally kind and benevolent that a way is provided by which we get rid of them. Death is that way.

Benjamin Franklin

This moment in time is coming for all of us, just like it came for Sandy.

What matters is how we live the lives we’ve been given. Sandy lived her life believing in Jesus Christ, and in His Word.

She lived her life cognizant of the fact that our time here is short.

James 4:14 KJV 1900

14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

Because she was aware of this, she lived her life well

My Mother Sandy Becker by Vicky Shepard

My mother Sandy Becker, was one of a kind. Unique for sure. From her hair style, to her story telling, to her stubbornness, to her kind loving heart. There is so much to say, so many memories, how can I possibly put this all down in words. As you can imagine, after 78 years, many individuals would have a lot of lifetime experiences to share and mom was no exception. Those closest to her, got to hear many of her stories and would often say, “You could write a book!” I will share some of my favorites.

Mom was an only child. Her father Henry, passed away of Cancer when she was just 14 years old. After that, it was just Sandy and her mother Virginia (aka “Girlie” or grandma to me). Mother and daughter were un-separatable. According to my grandmother, my mother was a “perfect child”. Yes, you heard correct. The word “perfect” was often used to described my mother. Now that is a tough pill to swallow, as when my brother and & I came into the picture, I don’t think we quite fit that description…. However, while I believe my grandmother could have been a tad bias, my mother always told me this; that she loved her mother and God so much that she never wanted to hurt either of them, therefore she always behaved. Grandma always lived with us, as mother & daughter stayed together. When grandma fell ill of diabetes, she stayed home still and mom took care of her until the end. She passed away on Mother’s Day 1990.

Some fun facts about mom:

· She played the accordion. Started at age 6 and could still play yet not that long ago. She also played the organ as well.

· She only had one hair cut in her lifetime. That was around the age of 14. She had long hair and went to the salon for a trim off the ends and the lady cut it just below her ears. Mom was so traumatized by his, that she never stepped foot in a salon again. Her hair stayed long the remainder of her days. Then in the 60’s, she started her famous “bump” hair style, that she continued with for her remaining years. Which I loved giving her a hard time about, especially in my youth. But that was mom.

· In high school, she was quite the runner. In track, she could out run the boys!

· She was water-logged, meaning she could not float. If put into a pool she would sink to the bottom, so she could only swim underwater.

· She could not wear watches. Every time she put on a watch; she would kill the battery. This is because she had high electrical currents running through her body.

· She taught Sunday School for 16 three-year-olds at the LDS Church in Milwaukee, before moving to Buffalo City.

· She ran her own business, Buffalo City Bait & Cottages for over 20+ years.

· She provided daycare for children, including my own children.

· She raised her granddaughter, Kelly.

· She retired at the age of 74.

· She died once before. When giving birth to her first-born son, Cary, her heart stopped for a short while. She had the experience of seeing herself on the hospital table, while doctors were reviving her.

· She was told never to get pregnant again. 7 years after the birth of her son, she got pregnant with me. Doctors told her to abort me or she will die, but mom said no…obviously….She put her faith in the great physician, and not man.

Mom’s Faith

Mom loves Jesus. She believed in the power of prayer and throughout her life God answered many of her prayers. Here are some of her many answered prayers:

Back in the 90’s she had issues with Kidney stones. After the first occurrence, she had a blessing from the elders of her church, when she had a second stone. She ended up passing the stone with ZERO pain. She brought the stone to her doctor and they were amazed she was able to even pass it at all due to the size of it, let alone without any pain! She never had a kidney stone again either.

Mom often struggled with finances being a single mom and also later in life being on a limited income. There were several times where she needed a specific amount of money to pay a certain bill and had prayed for help. God had always come through for her. There are three that come to mind.

She once needed $100 to pay an upcoming expense. She prayed for God to help her figure out how she can come up with this amount. Then one evening while she was working at the local convenient store, a woman came in, who she never seen before, smiled at her reached out her hand, as to shake her hand. Mom was confused, asked if she needed help, but took her hand. The woman then left store. Mom looked out the window for car, but there was nothing there. She disappeared. That is when she looked down at her hand and noticed a $100 bill was given to her.

The second story I recall, is when mom was in need of $300. Again, trusting in God, she asked for help. This time a couple knocked on her door. They were driving through town and noticed mom’s old bait shop sign and other signs she had outside. They asked if she had more, which she did, and offered her $300 to purchase these old signs that she no longer had use for.

The third story, is another time she needed $300. She turned to God in prayer, asking for a solution. She received an answer, which was to look her file cabinet. She opened her cabinet, looked around and didn’t find anything, except that she had her late Aunt’s billfold stored in the drawer. However, she knew there was no money in it, as she had been through the billfold before. So had several other individuals before this even came into her possession, but she looked everywhere else in the cabinet, so she opened the billfold and there in plain sight was exactly $300.

For those that were blessed to hear mom’s stories, she had a lot of amazing ones to tell.

She was no stranger to hard work nor pain either. In the her 20’s, she as in a car accident, that left her with a life long back injury. In her 30’s, she suffered with migraines on and off for 4 years. In her 60’s, arthritis plagued her, and in the end, cancer is what claimed her. When mom received her diagnosis of cancer last fall, she was not upset. She did not get depressed. She left it in God’s hands.

She was an amazing woman, so compassionate towards others. She could literally have $10 in her bank account, but if you needed it, she would give it to you. It didn’t matter who you are.

As a mother, she did such special things for us kids. I remember when Cary & I were young, mom would get us real bunnies for Easter. Or when I would get sick, even as an adult, she would come over and want to take care of me. When the grand kids were born, she took such good care of our babies. She provided a loving home for her granddaughter Kelly and I was blessed to have her provide daycare for Tristan & Seheli (sa-halie). She spent a lot of time with these grandchildren and they remained very close throughout the years.

Mom had close relationships to her to son Cary and his girlfriend of 20+ plus years Kelly Heller, whom I refer to as my sister-in-law. Her cousin Connie also, who grew up together and stayed close all their lives.

As with Sandy’s relationship to her mother Virginia, mom and I were very much the same. Up until 2018, I have always lived just a block from mom. That is when I moved to La Crosse and she moved to Fountain City. We always did everything together. From shopping, vacations, holidays, etc. When I moved to La Crosse, we talked on the phone several days a week. She had the “gift of gab”. I am sure going to miss that….

When she got sick, there was no way I was going to leave her side. Mom moved in with me for her final months. This was the best choice for her, our family, & myself. All the family got to visit with her. We got to pray together, laugh together, & cry together. A couple weeks before she passed, she told me she had a dream that she died. She said it was just me with her, on her right side holding her hand and I kept telling her “it’s ok”. During her final week, she held on longer than we expected. Some were beginning to wonder if she was waiting for someone. There was family at the house every day. Friday night, everyone had left for some rest. Saturday morning, I woke up at 5:30am. Mom and I were alone. I spent the morning praying with her and shortly after I was done, I could see her taking her last breaths. I was on her right-side, holding her hand and repeated “it’s ok”….. “it’s ok.”

It was not until later that I remember her dream.

Our lives here on earth are but one aspect of our total existence. Sandy lived her life here well.

She leaves behind a loving family, and friends.

We mourn her loss tonight, but we have the hope that one day we can see her again.

Mom’s favorite:

Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Conclusion

Pray