Funeral services for Martin Becker were held at Fred Gruhn's home at 9 o'clock Friday morning at 2:30 o'clock at the Lutheran Church at Manning, Iowa. Rev. Max J. Ansorge in charge of rites here and Rev. Johann Ansorge in charge at Manning. Burial was made in Manning.

Martin Becker, son of Johann and Catherine Becker, was born on May 11, 1849, in Cassel, province of Hesse, Germany. Baptized and confirmed into the Christian faith of Lutheran Church in his early youth. He enlisted in the German army and saw active service during the Franco-Prussian war of 1870.

On February 9, 1873, he was united in marriage to Miss Gertrude Vogt, to which union were born nine children, three of whom died in infancy. In the year 1881, Martin Becker and his family immigrated to America settling in Carroll county, later moving to a farm several miles northeast of Manning, Iowa.

Upon retirement in the early 1920s, Mr. and Mrs. Becker moved to Manning, continuing a life of wedded happiness for ten years more, during which time they were able to celebrate their golden anniversary of their wedding in 1923, in the presence of children and grandchildren, Upon the death of Mrs. Becker in 1931, the deceased made his home with his daughter, Gertrude Gruhn, moving with her to Spirit Lake in 1934, where he lived until the time of his death.

He had enjoyed excellent health during the many years of his life, but for the past year or two was stricken with an ailment that caused him considerable pain and suffering. Barely recovered from an attack of his ailment last summer, he suffered a recurrence last Wednesday. On Saturday, he was strong enough to sit erect and to receive absolution and the Lord's Supper from his pastor. He died Wednesday, April 27, 1938, at the age of 88 years.

He leaves to mourn his departure, four daughters; Mrs. Christine Paulsen and Mrs. Gertrude Gruhn of Spirit Lake, Mrs. Elizabeth Thomas of Redondo, California, and Mrs. Anna Wright of Montezuma: two sons, George Becker of Austin, Minnesota, and Louis Becker of Spirit Lake; 10 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, and many friends in Spirit Lake and Manning.