Marilyn Grace (Getz) Becker

Marilyn Grace (Getz) Becker, the family historian always said, “We should look forward, and learn from the past.” At the age of 93, Marilyn passed away Tuesday, January 21, 2020, peacefully at home. A funeral service will be held 10:30 a.m., Monday, January 27, 2020 at the First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Mt. Carroll. Burial will take place in Oak Hill Cemetery, Mt. Carroll. Visitation will be held 2:00-4:00 p.m., Sunday, January 26, 2020 at Law-Jones Funeral Home, Mt. Carroll. A memorial fund has been established in Marilyn's honor. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.lawjonesfuneralhome.com

On June 30, 1926, Marilyn became the first-born of Lawrence and Grace (Downing) Getz. While growing up on the family dairy farm near Mt. Carroll, she learned from “Papa” that when you saw a job needed to be done, you rolled-up your sleeves and got started. Marilyn is a 1944 graduate of the Mt. Carroll High School. On May 24, 1944, Marilyn married Allen Paul Becker.

They began farming near Mt. Carroll and Marilyn wrote, “I would milk the cows while he was working in the field.” It was a team effort, they raised four children and were blessed with forty-three years of marriage, before Allen’s passing April 29, 1987. Marilyn continued to farm nine more years, before moving to town where she enjoyed helping others by sharing her positive, strong spirit in many ways.

As she was entering her eighties, Marilyn thought about all the progress, and many changes in the world. She decided to write an autobiography, and in the Introduction said, “I am not a writer, but just a country girl who lived a simple and blessed life.” and “I always tried to find a way to make whatever it was to come out for the best.” She touched many friends and family with her talents, by baking birthday and wedding cakes, crocheting afghans, comfort shauls, and even designing pocket-prayer quilts that she made and distributed to many.

Marilyn was a long-time member of the First Evangelical Lutheran Church of Mt. Carroll, the Carroll County Farm Bureau, the Jacobstown Community Club, the RSVP, Retired Senior Volunteer Club, and she spear-headed TOPS in Mt. Carroll.

She will be dearly missed by three children, Beverly (Jim) Hufman of Morrison, Elaine Morhardt of Mt. Carroll and Wayne (Kathy) Becker of Mt. Carroll; 10 grandchildren; 22 great grandchildren; five great-great grandchildren; numerous step-grandchildren;a sister, Florence Sisler of Coralville, Iowa; and a brother, Leroy (Hazel) Getz of Savanna. Marilyn is preceded in death by her husband, Allen; a daughter, Colleen Becker; two sisters, Doris Schubert and Marcia Hessenius; and both parents.

Marilyn leaves us with her concluding thought from her autobiography, “Smile and the world smiles with you: weep and you weep alone. You can be miserable or happy and I choose to be happy.”