Jackie (Rheaume) Becker

Jackie (Rheaume) Becker / Jacqueline Kay (Rheaume) Becker died peacefully on September 3, 2024, at Methodist Hospital in Rochester after suffering a traumatic brain injury at her home. 

Jackie was born on June 27, 1952 in New Ulm, to Henry “Sonny” and Bernadette “Bernie” (Saffert) Rheaume.

Jackie attended John Ireland Elementary School and graduated from St Peter High School in 1970. The streets of St Peter were filled with various Rheaume family members, as her father was one of 8 kids, and she often stated “we don’t really need friends, we had our cousins.” But she also had many lifelong friends from school and she cherished those friendships just as much.

In July 1970, Jackie married Michael Trepanier and they welcomed two children, Mark and Stacy. After their divorce, she moved home to St. Peter to be close to family. In 1979, while out at the Caledonia Lounge in Mankato, a friend introduced her to Arlon Becker, a poor farmer with two boys of his own, who lived in the woods in a two by four shack. They danced and at closing time, she invited him to meet her, her mother, and a friend at Happy Chef for coffee. When he arrived, Arlon discovered that this lady he had spent the evening dancing with was the daughter of the woman who had been on the receiving end of a glass of ice down the front of her shirt from him earlier in the evening. That was just the first of many memorable stories from their 45 years of life together.

On June 14, 1980, Jackie and Arlon were married in Madelia, MN. This was the best gift she could have ever given her kids. Raising a blended family was not easy, but Jackie and Arlon committed to each other and their family. Jackie was feisty, much like her own mother, and was not afraid to speak up and ruffle feathers in defense of her family. Jackie worked a variety of jobs after moving to the farm, and she learned to drive tractor and farm truck. She started as a rural carrier sub for the Mankato post office in 1984, eventually becoming full time and worked there until her retirement in November 2015. 

Family was everything to Jackie, and she worked to organize the Rheaume/Reaume/Rehome Reunion for many years. She took incredible pride in her flowers, planting over 400 flowers in the yard every year. She also enjoyed reading, word searches, listening to 50s/60s music, and traveling. Jackie was incredible cook and baker and her “Jackie Bars” were her entry tickets into family events. She was so excited to become a grandma in 2002 and absolutely adored her three grandsons and loved to spoiled her grandpup Louie. 

Jackie is survived by her favorite husband, Arlon; her children Mark (Christina) Trepanier of San Antonio, TX; Stacy Trepanier of North Mankato; Aaron (Kristi) Becker of South St Paul; and Jeff (Rachael) Becker of Apple Valley; her grandsons Ryan Trepanier of San Antonio, TX; Lukas Trepanier of North Mankato, and Alex Trepanier of Waco, TX; her brother Pete (Theresa) Rheaume; sisters in law Harriet Sowers, Charlotte Fatland, Arlys (Ken) Hanson, and Avis (Tom) Wakey; many nieces and nephews, many (many) cousins, and a large number of friends, including her lifelong best friend Patty Pryor.

Jackie was preceded in death by her parents; her brother Mike “Mouse” Rheaume, sister Jeanne Oldenburg, nephews Darin Sowers, Bill Oldenburg, and Ty Hansen, her in laws Arlo and Elaine Becker, brothers in law Bob Fatland, Dan Sowers, Bob Oldenburg, many dearly loved aunts, uncles, and cousins, and many friends who became family. 

Please join us for a celebration of life on Saturday, September 21, 2024, at Hosanna Lutheran Church, 105 Hosanna Drive, Mankato, MN, with a visitation from 11am-1pm, with service starting at 1pm and a meal to follow. Please feel free to wear jeans and wear red, Jackie’s favorite color or orange as some of you may prefer. Memorials are preferred to the family, but if you insist on sending flowers... please make sure it is a live plant (not cut flowers) per Arlon.

Over the years, Mom received a lot of comments about putting up with “Becker” but their faith in God and love for each other carried them through. Dad made Mom laugh every day and he was by her side through her entire final journey. As her children, we could not have asked for more for our mom. 

As a family, we are incredibly thankful for those who came to Mom’s side on the day of her fall: Barb Hanson, Jeremy Henke, Bill Davis, and Phyllis Johnson. We are thankful for your care and familiar faces.

Ballard-Sunder Funeral & Cremation proudly served the Becker family.