Who is Mama Becker

I never expected to be answering that question, or writing a blog, for that matter. For most of my life, my writing consisted of journal entries, birthday messages, and grocery or to-do lists. Then my family created Mama Becker’s Facebook page and encouraged me to start sharing family stories. I didn’t know what I was doing, but I discovered something lovely and unexpected: I enjoyed putting my thoughts and memories into words and it stirred something in me... a quiet kind of creativity I didn’t know I had.

Just as that little spark began to grow, life interrupted. I was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma on my legs. Not mild, not simple... serious enough that my focus became getting through it and saving my legs.

The next three years were consuming. Karen was living with us then, and I don’t know what I would have done without her. She helped me through an exhausting season of treatments, daily care, and difficult lifestyle changes. By the grace of God, I came through that chapter, and I am deeply grateful. Little by little, I returned to the things I loved, including sharing stories.

Ozone therapy

I began writing blogs for our family business, Dr. Becker’s Bites. It occurred to me recently that perhaps I could share my story... and here it is, a glimpse into the life of Mama Becker.

 

An Iowa Beginning

I grew up in New Hartford, a small farming town in central Iowa, the oldest of Merrill and Evelyn Shaw’s four daughters. Dad owned and operated the grain elevator… hardworking, steady, dependable. My mom was a stay-at-home mom but also helped with bookkeeping at the elevator. And my grandmother, “Nan-Nan,” lived with us. Family was everywhere: under our roof and just a few doors away. My sisters and I were close in age and each other’s best friends. It was a childhood that felt safe, simple, and full of love.

Jeannine, Sharon, Marlene, Patricia

Patty, Jeannie, Jo, Marlene

Dad, Marlene, Mom, Jo, Jeannie, Patty Marie

Mom and Nan-Nan

 

In college, I met Jim, a high school French teacher. We dated, fell in love, got married, and life moved forward in a big way. Adulthood came quickly, and motherhood followed soon after. John, our firstborn, was a charming little boy who became the center of our world. Ann followed, the most beautiful baby I had ever seen, and so, so delightful to live with. Five years later, came Karen, a joyful surprise who has been nothing but joy ever since. 

Newly weds

Ann, John, and baby Karen

 

Somewhere between babies and family life, I finished my degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology. But I chose to stay home and raise our children. It was a financial sacrifice and a decision I’ve never regretted. Even now, my children thank me for being there while they were growing up. 

 

See the World, Making a Home

I’m getting ahead of myself here. Motherhood filled my heart, but I also longed to see the world. I’d written about it in my high school diaries and I certainly married the right man for that. 

Jim was a lifelong learner and explorer, and our mutual passion took us on one of the greatest adventures of our lives: a year in Paris. The four of us (before Karen) were students, John was five and Ann was three. The children were in a neighborhood elementary school, I was at the Alliance Française and Jim was at La Sorbonne. 

We fell in love with Parisian life... the city, the adventures even our roadside picnics. What a magical year!

In front of Notre Dame, 1969

Roadside picnic

Monaco, a trip south

 

When we returned home to Cedar Falls, Iowa, Jim began his new job teaching French at Malcolm Price Laboratory School. Karen was born, our wonderful surprise, and John and Ann stepped beautifully into their roles as big brother and sister.

LEFT: John, Karen, and Ann    RIGHT: Ann 7, Karen 2

 

After a few years, Jim’s desire for learning called us again, this time to Ohio State University in Columbus. 

At home in Buckeye Village

 

Our home in Buckeye Village was full of children, activities, classes and new friends. Jim was a busy student, I was raising three young children, and they were thriving. 

Two years later, we returned to Cedar Falls and bought our first home, across the street from a city park. Our children spent countless happy hours there.  

And then there was Sooty, our little black schnauzer-poodle mix. In my opinion, he was the perfect dog. My children might disagree, he had firm opinions about their nonsense, but they loved playing together in that park. He walked miles with me every day, loyal and steady, for 18 wonderful years. 

Life with three kids and a teacher’s salary meant we didn’t have much extra, but our lives never felt lacking. I sewed most of our clothes, cooked, and baked. As the children grew older, I hung wallpaper with my neighbor and was a substitute teacher when needed. Jim spent hours at his workbench building dollhouses and toys. There was always something being made, something good in the oven, and someone to enjoy it with.

Jim created the colorful, hand-painted cabinet on the left. Karen with Cousin Jill

 

A gift of money eventually allowed us to buy a small cabin on a Minnesota fishing lake. That little cabin became one of the greatest gifts of our lives. Summers became swimming, fishing, walleye dinners, water skiing and games. Those were golden years, filled with indelible memories. 

 

Watching Our Family Grow

As our children grew, their lives began to unfold in their own beautiful ways. John followed love to Louisiana, married, and made us grandparents when Blair was born. What a delight she was and still is! He later returned home, with a business degree in hand, and joined me in building Dr. Becker’s Bites.

John earned his college degree in business

Blair inherited my mother’s dimple!

Blair with her dad

 

Ann, true to who she had always been, pursued law. Even as a child, she had a remarkable ability to win an argument; something her father recognized early... he called her “my little attorney.” She and her husband Brett gave us three more joys: twins, Sam and Rachel, followed by Noah.

Brett and Ann

Sam and Rachel...yes, best friends!!

Sam, Rachel and Noah

Rachel loved reading to her baby brother, Noah... cutest little bug on the planet.

 

Karen’s path was filled with animals from the beginning. As a teenager, she became deeply involved in wildlife rehabilitation, and our home filled with orphaned and inured creatures. I was her assistant until Blair began spending time with us, during summers, and happily took over the job. 

One day after another trip to the veterinarian with an injured animal, Karen announced, “I cannot spend the rest of my life going to the vet. I have to be the vet.” 

And that was that!

Our home was filled with baby or injured wildlife

Karen and her baby raccoons 

Karen with her favorite helper, Blair

Karen returning to vet school after a weekend home

 

She studied wildlife management at the University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point, then veterinary medicine at Iowa State University. Eventually, she opened her own hospital, the first proactive, functional medicine veterinary hospital. Marriage also brought two more grandchildren into our lives, Danielle and Jimmy.

LEFT: Danielle and Jimmy    RIGHT: Dani, Jim, and Blair

 

A New Beginning at 60

While Karen was building her practice, she asked me to make a treat for her sick and dying patients. And that simple request led to Dr. Becker’s Bites. At 60 years old, I created the first single-ingredient, human-grade pet treat.

This is a photo of the original bag of Dr. Becker’s Bites.

I didn’t set out to create a treat and start a business, and I hadn’t planned on becoming a writer, either. But here I am, a wife, mother, grandmother, a business owner and teller of family stories. So, my friends, that is me: Mama Becker, 84 years old, a few cracks in my brain into which thoughts and memories sometimes slip, but I’m working hard to stay strong and healthy.

I still have plenty of stories to share, and I’m so glad I can share them with you. Thanks! :)