The Marilue Becker Scholarship was created by her husband, Gaylord J. Becker after the completion of his wife’s 35 year teaching career in mathematics, her last 24 years at Pius X High School.
Marilue was born in York, Neb. to Edwin and Bertha Henning. When she was nine, the death of her father became a powerful influence. The value of education was instilled into her the short time she had with her father.
“After dad’s death, my mother sold the acreage and we started farming south of McCool,” Marilue said. “Besides helping with the farming, irrigation and cattle I was very involved in school, playing volleyball and basketball, performing in every play and very active in 4-H, exhibiting my cooking and sewing skills and prize livestock.”
After graduation from McCool High in 1956 Marilue entered Doane College in Crete, Neb., on a scholarship. She entered a two-year program which enabled her to teach in a country school. After one semester of elementary education, she transferred to the University of Nebraska, and changed her major to mathematics in secondary education. There she experienced a real love for mathematics and had many wonderful teachers. Marilue graduated in 1960, and joined the Dawes Junior High staff teaching mathematics.
In 1961, Marilue wed Gaylord Becker at St. John Catholic Church in Lincoln, Neb. She continued to teach until their first son, Christopher, was born in 1967. In 1971 the Beckers adopted their daughter, Carol Ann through Catholic Social Services. Marilue played an active role in St. John’s serving as wedding coordinator. She was also on the Parish Welcome Committee spending one evening a month visiting new parishioners.
After ten years in St. John’s Parish, they built their home in the Cathedral Parish. In 1974 Marilue was fortunate enough to accompany her husband to a national convention in San Francisco. They were able to secure the help of a nun to stay with their son and take him to school while they were gone. When they returned, Sister Darlene, then principal at Cathedral, contacted Marilue about a teaching job. After three years, Msgr. Ivan Vap hired Marilue at Pius X where she continued to teach for the next 24 years, retiring in 2001.
