Erma Eileen Becks

Erma Eileen (Portice) Becks, age 79, of Pickford, Michigan, died Saturday, March 7, 2015 at her home surrounded by her family. She was born July 10, 1935 in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, to Ervin Johnson Portice and Pricilla Elizabeth (Howard) Portice. Eileen grew up in Pickford and graduated from Pickford High School. She married and lived in St. Ignace for several years before returning to Pickford with her four young children. Eileen worked for 29 years in offices in Brown Hall at Lake Superior State University. Over the years, Eileen carpooled with many different people in her daily commute from Pickford to Sault Ste. Marie. After her children were grown, Eileen married William F. “Bill” Becks on June 27, 1981 at the Stalwart Presbyterian Church. Eileen attended the Stalwart Presbyterian Church where she often helped make pasties and pies for church fundraisers and helped with the annual Stalwart Fair dinners. She was a Cub Scout Leader when her boys were young. Eileen was also a member of the Red Hats Society. Eileen was a skilled seamstress who made all of her children’s clothing including suits for her sons and dress jackets and clothing for herself. She also knitted socks, hats, and scarves to help keep her children warm. She also sewed doll clothes, Teddy bears, and many quilts. She taught a few quilting classes at a local quilt fabric store and made beautiful quilts for all of her family members as well as others. Eileen also enjoyed flower gardening, making flower arrangements, feeding birds, and making ceramics. Eileen is survived by sons, Keith (Gaye) Belonga and Ervin (Marcy) Belonga, both of Pickford; daughters, Kathy (Brian) Moss of Hessel, Michigan, and Sandy (Bob) Richardson of Mayville, Michigan; grandchildren, Krissy (Matt) Harmon, Mandy Roy, Chelsea (Dave) Kasper, Justin and Stacy Moss, and Andrea and Steven Richardson; great grandchildren, Gavin, Ian, Kiera, Parker, Tatum, Peyton, and Roman; brother, Malcom (Linda) Portice of Owosso, Michigan; and sisters, Helen Novak of Owosso, Michigan, and Josephine Reed of Bay City, Michigan. Eileen is also survived by step-daughters, Terri (Randy) Flannigan of Virginia, Minnesota, and Cindy (John) Carlson of Perkins, Michigan; step-son, William Arthur (Cheryl) Becks of Pickford; grandchildren, Cristin and Brandon Flannigan, Brooke, Jordan and William Carlson, and Cody and Calie Becks; great grandchildren, Jace and Xavier; and sisters-in-law, Peggy (Jim) Hill of Pickford, Kathy (Kenneth) Batho of Knoxville, Tennessee, and Gaye (Keith) Belonga of Pickford. Eileen was preceded in death by her husband, Bill on September 21, 2014; infant son, Wayne Steven Belonga; step great grandchild, John Carlson III; and brothers-in-law, Gordon Novak and Richard Reed. Services will be held Thursday, March 12 at R. Galer Funeral Home, 24549 S. M-129 in Pickford. Visitation will be held from 11:00 A.M. until 2:00 P.M. The funeral service will begin at 2:00 P.M. with Eileen’s cousin, Reverend George Portice conducting the service. Burial will follow at Oaklawn Chapel Gardens in Bruce Township, Michigan. Memorials may be left to the Stalwart Presbyterian Church, 8317 E. M-48, Stalwart, MI 49736.

Tributes

Erma Eileen Becks

July 10, 1935 - March 7, 2015