Sophia Becker, 89

Sophia Evankow was born Aug. 23, 1923, in Newark, N.J., to Demetri and Eva Evankow. She had two brothers: Mickey and Joe; and three sisters: Anne, Catherine and Leda. When she was little the family moved to the lower east side of Manhattan, New York City. The lower east side at that time was home to many Ukrainian and Jewish immigrants, among others. Sophia grew up speaking Ukranian, Polish, Russian, Yiddish and English.

Sophia met a sailor, Albert Becker, in Central Park, New York City, when he was stationed at the Brooklyn Naval Yard during World War II. He was transferred to the Great Lakes near Superior, Wis., where they were married on Aug. 1, 1943. When Al went overseas, Sophia returned to New York City where she lived with her mother. After the war, in 1946, Al took Sophia and their baby daughter, April, to Valleyford, Wash., the state of Al’s birth. Later, they moved to Spokane where David was born.

In 1952, Sophia and Al bought a farm in Rathdrum and while there, Susan was born. Al died in August 2003. Later, Sophia sold the farm and moved to Hayden where she lived until she passed away Nov. 10, 2012.

She is survived by her children, April Fredean of Brooklyn, N.Y., and David Becker and Susan Moore of Rathdrum; grandchildren, Sonda Cole of Hayden Lake, Jolene McGaughey and Lindsay Stores of Rathdrum, Laura Becker of Moscow, Zac Becker of Coeur d’Alene, Luke Black of Post Falls, and Michael and DJ Moore of Rathdrum; great-grandchildren, Makenna McGaughey and Hannah Stores; a sister, Leda Slattery of Idaho Falls; and many nieces, nephews and friends.

A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 2, 2012, at the Rathdrum Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 8162 W. Nagel Road.

Please sign Sophia’s guest registry and view her online memorial at www.englishfuneralchapel.com.