Ardella F. Becker, 58, of Corning, KS, died Saturday, May 26, 2001, as the result of a single-auto accident. Her car was located Sunday morning a mile south of Corning after an area-wide search by Nemaha County law enforcement, local fire departments, emergency personnel, relatives and friends.

She was born May 19, 1943, at Axtell, KS, the daughter of Edwin and Anna Deters Ronnebaum of Baileyville. She grew up on the family farm and attended St. Benedict School, graduating from high school in 1961 as the valedictorian of the class. She worked as a waitress at local cafes, and for Jay Adriance at the Courier Tribune newspaper in Seneca, Bauman Catering at Centralia, and the Sage Grocery in Corning. She also also did domestic work for local people, and helped with the family farm.

On October 12, 1963, she married John Becker at St. Mary’s Church, St. Benedict. He survives of the home. They lived and farmed south of Corning.

She was a member of St. Patrick’s Church, where she was a religion teacher; the Altar Society; the American Legion Auxiliary, of which she was a past president; and the Corning Extension Unit, all in Corning. She was on the board of the Nemaha County Training Center, the Nemaha County Council on Aging, Nemaha County Cancer Society, and the Nemaha County Historical Society. She was also a newspaper correspondent reporting on Corning for area newspapers.

Survivors besides her husband are two daughters, Marcia Gillie of Holton and Kathryn “Kaye” Becker of Salina, KS; a brother Elmer Ronnebaum of Baileyville, KS; a sister, Darlene Hillhouse of Live Oak, FL; two grandchildren and a step granddaughter.

She was preceded in death by a son, John Francis Becker, Jr. on October 15, 1965.

Mass of Christian burial will be 10:30 AM Wednesday, May 30, at St. Patrick’s Church at Corning . The burial will be in the church cemetery. Prayer services will be 7 PM Monday and Tuesday at the Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca, KS, where she will lie in state after 4 PM on Monday.

Memorials may be given for the American Cancer Society, St. Patrick’s Church, or the Restoration Fund at St. Mary’s Church, St. Benedict and sent in care of the family.