Arthur W. Becker

Arthur Wilson Becker, 90, formerly of Saratoga, died in his home in Redlands, Calif., on Aug. 1.

He was born in Gordonville, Mo. As a child, he and his family lived on a farm in Mapleton, N.D. He attended college at North Dakota State University, where he met his wife, Elaine. Following their marriage in 1936, they moved to Santa Monica. During World War II, Becker was employed by Douglas Aircraft Co. in Santa Monica. Following the war, he was one of the original 12 team members to develop and manufacture the Aero Commander business aircraft in Bethany, Okla. Later he worked in the aerospace industry, and in 1972 moved to Florida to work on the Skylab I project at Cape Canaveral. He lived in the Bay Area while employed for United Technology before moving to Saratoga as an employee of Lockheed at the test facility in the Santa Cruz Mountains. He retired in 1979 and moved to Redlands with his wife.

Becker is survived by his wife of 68 years, Elaine, his four children, nine grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were held in Redlands, followed by internment at Forest Lawn in Glendale, Calif., on Aug. 6.

Beatrice G. Swanson

Beatrice Grace Swanson died on Sept. 3 in Los Gatos.

She was born in San Francisco in 1920. She was married to Ray J. Swanson in 1942, and they were married until his death in March of 2003. Swanson was a school secretary with the Saratoga Union School District for 18 years until her retirement in 1987. She then volunteered for 10 years at the Community Hospital in Los Gatos.

She is survived by her daughters, Shirlee McKibbin of Sacramento, Sandra Haynes of Hayward and Sue Fox of Los Gatos; her son, Richard Swanson, and his wife, Robyn, of Antioch; her grandchildren, Stephen Fox, Kelly McKibbin, Scott Haynes, Nathan Fox, Sam McKibbin, Carrie Haynes and Amy Swanson; and her great-grandchildren, Tashia, Taylor, Christopher, Jordon and Joseph.

Graveside services were held on Sept. 9 at Madronia Cemetary in Saratoga, followed by a reception at The Plumed Horse Restaurant in downtown Saratoga. Donations can be made in her name to a cancer charity of choice. Arrangements were handled by the Darling-Fischer Chapel of the Hills in Los Gatos.