Mary Barbara (Freiburger) Becker

Mary Barbara Freiburger Becker, 97, resident of Schulte, KS, died on Wednesday April 20, 2022, in her family home of 39 years. She was born August 26, 1924, in Kansas City, MO to Henry and Mary Freiburger.  The family moved to Verona, MO in 1934 where she graduated as valedictorian of her high school class.  Barbara returned to Kansas City, MO to attend business college on a scholarship and started her career. She attended a USO dance on a blind date with a tall, blonde-haired, blue-eyed Navy man, who was John Becker. They courted for 18 months, then married on April 22, 1947. They were married for 58 years until his death in April 2005.
Barbara worked for Schulte’s St. Peter the Apostle School as cook and custodian for 20+ years. She was a member of the St. Peter the Apostle church for 75 years where she was active in the church choir and altar society. During this time, she played on a women’s parish softball league from age 25 to 50 and then coached softball at age 50. Beyond her family; quilting, gardening, cooking and friends were her passions.
She is survived by 9 of her children - Patricia Becker of Schulte, KS; Kathleen (Ron) Cunning of Weatherford, TX; Mary Brewster of Wichita, KS; Dan Becker of Clearwater, KS; Edward (Lisa) Becker of Topeka, KS; Carol (Bob) Weaver of Wichita, KS; Elizabeth (Kevin) McFall of Edmond, OK; Janet (Eric) Blankenship of Wichita, KS; Eileen Ball of Wichita, KS. Son John Henry Becker died at age 1 in 1950.
All of her 27 grandchildren, 32 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren were able to be with Barbara in the months prior to her death. 
Her 27 grandchildren include Mignon Brewster, Jamin Cunning, Zachary Brewster, Joshua Brewster, Dane Becker, Karen Teel, Jeb Becker, Rhianna Danahy, Sarah Hutchinson, Ben Becker, Janet Bosley, Mary Rose Brewster, Nicholas Ball, James Gaida, Zane Gaida, Katie Colon, Danielle Paulson, Emily Weaver, Matt Becker, Wade Blankenship, Alex Ball, Coy Blankenship, Robert Ball, Luke Blankenship, Libby Weaver, John Henry Becker, and Helen Becker.
Barbara was preceded in death by her parents and her four siblings – Hank Freiburger of Verona, MO, Albert Freiburger of Carlsbad, CA, and Betty Conn of Aurora, MO.

The Rosary is Tuesday April 26, 2022 at 7:30 PM and A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Wednesday April 27, 2022 at 10:30 AM, BOTH at St. Peter the Apostle Church in Schulte, KS. Interment immediately following the Mass in St. Peter's Catholic cemetery next to her husband. Memorials are requested in lieu of flowers to St. Peter's Catholic School at 11000 Southwest Boulevard, Wichita, KS 67215.

The family would like to thank the staff of Rivercross Hospice for the loving attentive care they provided.
Barbara lived by these words for 97 years “when something goes wrong, offer it up.” 

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