ProRodeo Sports News - January 26, 2018

PRCA NOTES

Becker was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Irene Lowe, Darlene Bonifield and Delores Valentine; two brothers, who died as babies, and grandson, Joseph Cawiezell. Becker is survived by his wife of 64 years, Sally; daughters, Brenda Booth, Joan (Bill) Bolln, Nancy (Dean) Edelman, Luanne (Chuck) Cawiezell, Julie Roland, and Kerry Becker and her partner, Michelle Wright. Memorials may be given to the Grant County Rescue or the Shriner’s Hospital for Children, Attn: Office of Development, 2900 N. Rocky Point Drive, Tampa FL, 33607. James Bert (Jim) Willuweit, who competed in the National Finals Rodeo in 1969 as a bareback rider, passed away Jan. 11 at his home near Creighton, S.D., at the age of 72. At the 1969 NFR, Willuweit finished 11th in the average. Willuweit was born Nov. 10, 1945, to Bert and Nellie (Connelly) Willuweit seventh grade and then attended Quinn School, followed by Wall High School, where he graduated in 1963. As a youth, Willuweit was active in 4-H and basketball. At 15, he won the National Little Britches bareback riding title. Willuweit attended South Dakota State University from 1963-65. He took deferment from college to help his father on the ranch and in 1965 was drafted into the Army. He served in Vietnam as a special communication operator and combat soldier until he was honorably discharged Sept. 9, 1967. Following his time in the service, Willuweit enrolled at Black Hills State University, where he excelled on the rodeo team. In 1968, he was the regional champion Willuweit YOUR AD HERE! JAMES BERT (JIM)WILLUWEIT in Quinn, S.D. He attended Big White School through the CALL NATHANVODEHNAL AT 214-883-1466 TO ADVERTISE IN THE PRORODEO SPORTS NEWS

bareback rider and reserve champion bull rider and was crowned the College National Rodeo Finals reserve champion bareback rider. He was inducted into the BHSU Rodeo Hall of Fame in 2014. He also is an SDSU Rodeo Hall of Fame member. Willuweit continued to rodeo through the early 1970s until returning home to the ranch, which he operated until his death. In addition to running the ranch, he was a licensed pilot and a licensed real estate agent. His love of animals led him to invest in a racehorse, JWBlade. The horse was trained by Gordie Olson, Willuweit’s cousin. JWBlade won multiple races and was one of the highlights of Willuweit’s life. Willuweit was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Jerry. He is survived by his sister, Connie (Dennis) Keil; nieces, Misty (Gene) Drewitz, Brandy (Dean) Daniel, Jami (JT) Moon, and nephewWill (Mari) Willuweit; great-nieces, Hannah, Lucy, Emmy and Ella; great-nephews, Danny, Philip, Haden, Johnny, Aaron and Ole; his uncle, Lawrence Connelly; and many relatives and friends. Amemorial has been established at the Black Hills State Rodeo Club and the Wall High School rodeo team. Wright Howington, a former PRCA bullfighter, barrelman and specialty act, passed away in Bowie, Texas, Jan. 10. He was 77. Howington started his rodeo career at age 15 in 1955 and retired in 1994. He was born Feb. 20, 1940, in Fort Worth, Texas. During his career, he also competed in five events, but his love was bullfighting and entertaining. He worked in 41 states and three Canadian provinces. He was the barrelman at the National Finals Rodeo in 1970 and was inducted into the Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame. Howington is survived by two daughters. His ex-wife, Terry, took care of him during his illness the past several years. WRIGHT HOWINGTON

PASSAGES

EDWARDA. BECKER

Edward A. Becker, of Chadron, Neb., passed

away Jan. 8 at Highland Park Care Center in Alliance, Neb., where he had been a resident since suffering a stroke on July 30. Becker was a six-

time qualifier for the National Finals Steer Roping (1965, 1968- 69, 1973-75). He won

the average in 1973 with a 197.7-second time on eight head. His best finish in the steer roping world standings was fourth in 1974. Becker was born April 24, 1929, in Alliance to EdwardM. andThelma (Zoble) Becker. He subsequently became the big brother to Arlene Minor, Maxine Morris and Charlene Hebbert. Becker attended school near their Ashby ranch before going to St. Agnes Academy, where he played football and basketball before graduating in 1948. Following graduation, he joined his dad in ranching. On July 14, 1953, he and Sally Lowe were married at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Alliance. He became associated with Lowe Cattle Company. Ranching was his priority in life, but he enjoyed rodeo as a pastime. Tie-down roping was his best event, but he took a turn at riding bareback horses and saddle bronc horses, and steer wrestling. At 30, he began steer roping. In 1983, Ed and Sally bought a place east of Chadron. He was able to rope more and they both began entering Old Timers Rodeos. In 1989, they went to Arizona for two weeks and eventually bought a place, rodeoed, made new friends and enjoyed the warm weather. Becker

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