Obituary of Janet Marie Becker

Age 81, died Friday, March 3, 2023 at Woodbury Senior Living center, Woodbury, MN, after a brief illness. Janet was born in St. Paul to the late Mark (Hub) and Virginia Appleton. She grew up on the East Side of St. Paul and went to Johnson High School. She then attended the University of Minnesota, where she gained an English degree and became certified as a teacher. She spent most of her career working in the St. Paul School District, where she was first a special education teacher and later, after obtaining her master’s degree in education from the University of MN, a special education administrator. After retirement, she continued to work for the district as a consultant. While in high school, she met William Arthur Becker when they both worked at a drugstore on Arcade St. in St. Paul. They were married on June 19th,1964 and had two children who survive her: William Becker and his partner Stephanie Shiel of Bay St. Louis, MS; and Matthew Becker of Amherst, MA. Janet and William divorced in 1984 and he passed away in 2016. Throughout her life, she kept in close touch with her younger brother William Appleton of Coeur d'Alene, ID and her younger sister, Linda Charboneau, her husband Mike of Lake Elmo and their three children Nicole, Danielle, and Brooke. When Janet was a girl, she frequently visited her grandparent’s farm, and this experience instilled in her a life-long love of animals. Later in life, she became an avid dog person with a focus on English Cocker Spaniels. She and her dogs–first Arthur, Frosty, and Obi, and then Liza, Marmot, and Quest (the only surviving dog, who now lives with William and Stephanie)–participated in agility training throughout the Twin Cities and even in various meets throughout the country. When the running of the agility course became too physically taxing, she and her dogs continued to compete in nose work completions. The dog world provided her with many friends, and it was the focus of her life. She was a lifelong reader and could be found on most evenings with a book--often a murder mystery--on her three-season porch. She often remarked that it was her favorite place on Earth. The family would like to thank all in her wide circle of friends. We would also like to thank the hospice caregivers at the Woodbury Senior Living center. We will hold a private ceremony at her house where we will scatter her ashes just outside of the three-season porch. If you would like to make a donation in her honor, please consider two of her favorite organizations: the East Side Freedom Library (1105 Greenbrier Street St. Paul, MN 55106 651.207.4926 https://eastsidefreedomlibrary.org/) and the International Wolf Center (1396 Highway 169, Ely, Minnesota 55731-8129, 218-365-4695 https://wolf.org/).