Elaine K. Becker

Elaine K. Becker, 58, of Centralia died Sunday, February 11, 2007 at Stormont-Vail Hospital in Topeka. She was transferred from the Onaga Hospital after suffering from an aneurysm.
     She was born on August 28, 1948, the daughter of Wilfrid and Rosalia “Sally” Weber Eisenbarth. She grew up on a farm southeast of Corning and attended St. Patrick’s Grade School in Corning. She graduated from Corning High School in 1966 and then joined the U.S. Air Force. After leaving the service, Elaine went to work for the Onaga Community Hospital as an aide. She pursued nursing studies at Cameron, MO, graduating as a Registered Nurse in 1976. She returned to the Onaga Hospital and worked there until her untimely death.
     On August 7, 1971 she married Dan T. Becker at St. Phillip’s Catholic Church in Hope, KS. After Elaine finished her nursing degree, they moved to a farm near Centralia and raised three children. Elaine worked as a registered nurse at the Onaga Community Hospital for thirty years. She served as a Staff Nurse, as Patient Care Coordinator, as the Director of Nursing, and as the Facility Director. In addition, she was an instructor for the Prepared Childbirth Classes and the Neonatal Resuscitation Classes. For the past five years she served in executive capacity as Chief Nursing Officer. In addition to nursing planning and oversight, Elaine had direct responsibility for infection control and employee health and safety.
     She enjoyed playing cards, sewing, gardening, cooking and baking. She cherished the time spent out in the country and time spent with her granddaughters.
     She was a member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, the Altar Society at the church, the Arthur L. Mills Post 37 of the American Legion of Corning, and the Kansas Trauma Association. She served on various committees and councils, including the Nemaha/Marshall County Business Consortium, the Northeast Kansas Regional Trauma Council, the Health Science Advisory Committee, and was appointed by the Governor in 2005 to the Kansas Statewide Committee on Trauma. In addition, she was the first recipient of the Nursing Heart of Health Care Award.
     Survivors are her husband Dan of the home in Centralia; two sons, Aaron Becker of Ames, IA, and Adam Becker of Lawrence; a daughter, Shawna Wiltfong of Centralia; her mother-in-law, Cordula Becker of Centralia; four sisters, Betty Becker of Corning, Mary Jo Eisenbarth of St. Joseph, MO, Patricia Flentie of Centralia, and Marlene Wolfe of Centreville, VA; three brothers, Francis Eisenbarth of Fairfax, VA, Thomas Eisenbarth of Bern, and Roger Eisenbarth of Sabetha; and two granddaughters
     Mass of Christian burial will be at 10 AM Wednesday at St. Patrick’s Church in Corning. Burial will be at the St. Patrick’s Cemetery in Coal Creek. The rosary will be prayed at 2 and 7 PM Tuesday at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca.
     Memorials may be given for the Elaine Becker Nursing Scholarship Fund or for the OB Department at the Onaga Hospital, and sent in care of the family.