BERNE — Maver Omer Becker, who felt most at home in the field and on a tractor, leaves behind a legacy of love, hard work, and dedication to his community.

He died peacefully on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024, in Guilderland. He was 91.

“He was born to Ada and Omer Becker at their farmhouse in Berne on June 7, 1933, along with his twin sister, Mavis,” his son Kenneth Becker wrote in a tribute. “Maver graduated from Berne-Knox High School in 1953, where he won the Future Farmers of America Award, enabling him to travel to the national convention in Chicago.

“On Sept. 17, 1955, Maver married Geraldine ‘Jerry’ Shipley, his beloved wife of 54 years. Together, at their family farm in Berne, they lived a life dedicated to family, neighbors, friends, and community. On July 11, 2015, he began sharing that life with his wife, Maryann Saddlemire of Knox.

“Maver was Dad to Ken, Fred, and Jay; brother to Frances, Norma, Mavis, and Marvin ‘Pete’; Grandpa to Elizabeth, Tim, Aurora, Ben, Luke, and Chandra; and Great-Grandpa to Cody and Madeline. He was ‘Uncle Maver’ to 26 nieces and nephews and almost everyone else.

“Maver treated everyone with respect, and never met a neighbor he couldn’t find a reason to go help. He was ever quick to offer a helping hand to anyone in need with a twinkle in his eye.

“The Becker Family Farm was more than an occupation; it was his life. The farm was a place where everyone was welcome, all the time, and where his children and nieces and nephews and neighbors could find work, fun, help, and support.

“In later years, Maver and his son Jay worked the farm together, with grandchildren Aurora, Ben, and Luke nearby, operating it as a livestock and haying operation, and septic business. Becker Ridge Farm was given The New York State Century Farm Award by the New York Agricultural Society in 2023. Maver felt most at home in the field and on a tractor until the end of his days.

“Maver could not sit still. In addition to running the farm, he and Jerry contracted a bus run for the Berne-Knox-Westerlo School District for over 50 years. When they weren’t farming or driving, Maver and Jerry square-danced all over New York state for more than 40 years with the Schoharie Valley Hay Shakers, where he was a charter member, past president, and officer.

“Maver also polkaed and traveled across the United States and Europe with Jerry and fellow dancers. He was a dedicated, lifelong member of Helderberg Evangelical Lutheran Church (formerly St. Paul’s Lutheran Church) in Berne, where he served variably as a member of the church council, an acolyte, usher, custodian, snowplow operator, and anything else the church needed him to be any time, ever.

“Maver also maintained the Woodlawn Cemetery for many years and was a life member of the Berne Volunteer Fire Company where he served as a firefighter and ambulance driver. In addition to his religious and community work, he was active in numerous agricultural organization boards and farm cooperatives, including the Albany County Farm Bureau, the Albany County Soil Conservation Service, Altamont Agway, Albany County Cooperative Extension, and the United States Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency’s County Committee.

“Maver lived a retirement full of love and was blessed to make Maryann Saddlemire of Knox his wife. The two were inseparable and traveled extensively by car, plane, train, and cruise ship throughout the entire United States, Canada, and Central America, always with family members and friends. They often made time to stop and visit with loved ones on the way from one place to another.

“Maver took great joy in watching his grandchildren and great-grandchildren grow and was a proud attendee of their special life events and celebrations. He and Maryann enjoyed winters in Florida, where they found a beautiful home near many friends and family from Berne who had also migrated away from winters ‘on the hill.’ Their Florida home was always full of warmth, laughter, family, friends, and delicious pies. Everyone was welcome.”

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Maver Omer Becker is survived by his wife, Maryann Saddlemire, of Knox; his twin sister, Mavis Schanz, and his brother, Marvin “Pete” Becker (Nancy); his three sons, Kenneth Becker (Kami); Fred Becker (Kathy), and Jay Becker (Shanna).

He is also survived by his grandchildren, Elizabeth (Chris), Timothy (Vicky), Aurora (Alex), Benjamin, Lukus (Katie), and Chandra; his two great-grandchildren, Cody and Madeline; and numerous nieces and nephews.

His wife, Geraldine “Jerry” Shipley Becker, died before him, as did his sisters, Frances Miller and Norma Schanz, and his nephews, Peter Becker and Harold Miller.

Family and friends are invited to visit with Maver Becker’s family on Wednesday, Aug. 28, from 4 to 8 p.m. in the church.

A funeral service will be celebrated by Pastor Jay T. Francis on Thursday, Aug. 29, at 11 a.m. in the Helderberg Evangelical Lutheran Church at 1728 Helderberg Trail in Berne. Interment will be in Woodlawn Cemetery in Berne.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Helderberg Evangelical Lutheran Parish.