Burns S. Becht
ROCHESTER — On Oct. 11, 2019, Mr. Burns S. Becht took a knee and left the playing field, the end of a generation, but not the end of his impact on legions.
In Elkhart, on Aug. 18, 1931, Burns Seville Becht was born. He was the treasured son of Burns S. Becht Sr. and Faye Rogers Becht. Growing up he shared his childhood with two sisters, Barbara and Roberta.
Following graduation from Elkhart High School in 1946, Burns continued his formal education at Franklin College to pursue his dream of becoming a teacher and coach. One fall day he took note of a freshman coed across the quad. Believing he would marry her, he sprinted across to introduce himself. She did not have a chance. With a love so fierce, faithful and eternal, Cuma C. Dowen returned the glance and they married on June 26, 1953.
His son, Robert Burns Becht, followed Burns athletically and vocationally. There were many stories of their shared and individual adventures with fishing, football and wrestling. Bob brought Sarah Sayger into the family in 1982.
Burns’s public life was well-lived and legendary. He led off with serving our country with the United States Army from 1952 – 1960. Returning home he initiated his teaching career in Danville. Mr. Becht came to Rochester and taught for over a quarter-century from 1962 – 1987. The Rochester stint afforded him the opportunity to forge relationships with students, athletes and colleagues that lasted a lifetime.
During his RHS years, he could be seen on the sideline coaching the defensive unit of the Zebras football team. Many seasons the team was undefeated, most prominent in memory were the 1962 and 1968 teams. During his tenure at RHS Coach Becht established the wrestling program as the men of the mats’ first coach.
As an entrepreneur, Burns presented our community with, Manitou Indian Arts for many years. He was elected for five terms to the Rochester City Council serving the city for two decades. He was a sports enthusiast and life-long fan of the Indianapolis 500. Burns’s philanthropic endeavors revolved around Mooseheart International. With his dedication to the Moose, he earned the pinnacle distinction of Pilgrim.
Burns strength, agility and physical endurance prepared him for the hours he spent wrapped around the pinkies of granddaughters Dr. Edna Sayger Becht DO and husband Ed Schneiders of Atlantic, Iowa, and Dr. Savannah Dowen Jewell DVM and her husband, Christopher Jewell, of West Lafayette, “Pops” had conditioned and prepared his flexibility for the pinky of newbie great-granddaughter, Edessa Jean Becht Schneiders born on Oct. 10, 2019. His cherished daughter-in-law, Dr. Sarah Sayger, DO, also survives. He will be missed by his nieces and nephews scattered around the country.
Welcoming Burns to his eternal home are his parents Burns and Faye Becht, beloved wife Cuma, cherished son Bob, two sisters Barbara Anderson and Roberta Cripe.
A celebration of the life of Mr. Burns S. Becht will be at 1 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 3, 2019, in the Good Family Funeral Home, 1200 West 18th Street, Rochester. His family will receive friends from 11 a.m. until the hour of the service. At 1 p.m., the Manitou Moose Lodge #1107 will deliver a memorial service. Next, the Fulton County Veteran’s Honor Guard and US Army Honors Team will conduct military service. Immediately following, Mayor Ted Denton will host his life celebration. Burial will follow next to his beloved wife, Cuma, at Rochester’s IOOF Cemetery.
Preferred memorials in lieu of flowers can be made to the Manitou Moose Lodge Scholarship Fund, 1911 Westside Drive, Rochester, IN 46975; Indiana Moose Association 2nd District or Mooseheart International 3S300 S Batavia Avenue, Mooseheart, IL 60539. Online expressions of sympathy may be made to his family at www.goodfamilyfh.com.