'He will be missed': Laketown parks commissioner Richard Becker dies at 81

LAKETOWN TWP. — Richard Becker, a veteran of the US Navy and member of several local boards and commissions, died Tuesday, July 23, at age 81.

According to his obituary, Becker was born in Flint. He attended high school in Marion, Indiana, and earned a bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University. Upon graduation in 1965, Becker was commissioned as an ensign in the US Navy, then assigned a two-year tour on the destroyer USS Harold J. Ellison.

Becker later returned to Grand Rapids to begin a career in marketing and advertising, and to raise a family, but retained his commission as an officer in the US Navy Reserve.

In addition to serving his country, Becker was known for his service to his community.

Becker served on the Laketown Township Planning Commission for over three years before resigning in May. He also joined the Laketown Parks and Recreation Commission in 2019, and remained on that board until his death.

Becker recently noted the importance of having a passion for parks.

“As residents of our township, we must have the passion to take responsibility for maintaining and continually evaluating the strength of our parks system,” he wrote in a recent candidate questionnaire for the township’s website.

Brad Laninga, chair of the parks commission, said it was an honor to serve alongside Becker.

“I’ve had the opportunity to work alongside Dick over the past year on the parks commission. Dick loved the parks in our township and was interested in making them better,” Laninga wrote in an email to The Sentinel. “In meetings he brought his dry sense of humor in moments when they were needed most. It was an honor to serve alongside him ... and he will be missed.”

Laketown Township Manager Al Meshkin said Becker had a “good, dry wit” and helped keep township business moving along.

“He was a good guy to work with, easy to work with,” Meshkin said. “He liked to cut through the nonsense and get right to the meat of the matter.

“I’d say that he was just a solid person and a good public servant and good community leader.”

Becker is survived by his wife Lorrie of 60 years, daughter Gwen (Post), son Rick (Brenda) and son John (Kathryn) and several grandchildren.

How does this affect Laketown’s election?

Becker was in the midst of a re-election campaign, seeking another term on the Laketown Parks Commission.

Including Becker, there were six candidates running for five seats in the primary election on Aug. 6. Because no Democrats filed to run, the five top vote-getters would be the presumptive winners in the general election.

Because absentee ballots were sent out weeks ago and in-person early voting starting over the weekend, Becker's name can't be removed from the ballot. However, Allegan County Clerk Bob Genetski said state law addresses the matter and votes for Becker will not be canvassed.

A portion of MCL 168.803 states “a vote cast for a deceased candidate is void and shall not be counted” except for a governor candidate for whom a replacement has not been made.

The other five candidates — incumbents Brad Laninga and Thomas Hoekman and newcomers Mary Jo Bertolino, Sherry Sirko and Michael Teekamp — are guaranteed to move on to the general election in November.

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Absentee voters who have yet to send in their ballots are able to spoil them until Monday, Aug. 5, and cast a new ballot. However, it's too late for those who've already voted in-person or turned in their absentee ballots.

— Contact reporter Mitchell Boatman at mboatman@hollandsentinel.com.

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Laketown parks commissioner Richard Becker dies at 81