Alvina Becker Wyrick

Thursday, October 27, 2005

Aug. 7, 1923--Oct. 25, 2005

KEARNEY -- Alvina Becker Wyrick, 82, died Tuesday morning (Oct. 25, 2005) at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney following a battle with heart failure.

She was born Aug. 7, 1923, in Mandan, N.D., the eldest of three children. A strong believer in education, she went to work as a secretary immediately after high school and worked to put her brother and sister through college, although she gave up that opportunity for herself.

On April 4, 1953, she married Robert Becker, and for the next 17 years traded her typewriter for diapers. They raised eight children. When friends would repeatedly comment on her positive and upbeat attitude, she would respond by saying that was what got her through tough times.

When Bob became ill, she worked as a secretary at the Red Willow County Extension office for several years before acquiring her real estate license and eventually opening her own office. She loved the challenge of real estate and enjoyed the variety of people it brought into her acquaintance. After Bob's death in 1985, she became even more involved in real estate and owned the McCook Century 21 office until her retirement in 2000.

On July 3, 1999, Alvina married Harlan Wyrick. They enjoyed travel and were blessed with six years together. Alvina played a mean game of bridge, worked the Sunday crossword puzzle in ink and had gotten to be pretty good on her computer. She was a gracious and giving person who recognized need and responded to it generously with time and resources.

Alvina is survived by her husband, Harlan of Kearney; eight children, Deborah and husband, David of Orchard, Carl and wife, Marie of Boise, Idaho, Linda and husband, Scott Rasmussen of Flower Mound, Texas, John of Scottsdale, Ariz., Robert and wife, Marcela of Tucson, Ariz., Daniel and wife, Nancy of Broomfield, Colo., James of Des Moines, Iowa, and Mary of Pittsburg, Texas; and fifteen grandchildren.

Rosary will be Thursday, 6 p.m., and funeral Mass will be Friday, 10 a.m., at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in McCook with Father Gary Brethour officiating. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery in McCook.

Public visitation will be today, 3-5 p.m., at Carpenter Breland Funeral Home. Friends may sign her book at the funeral home or send condolences online at www.carpenterbreland.com.

Carpenter Breland Funeral Home of McCook is in charge of arrangements.