Becker, Dr. William K., Jr. died on March 11, 2025 at the age of 72. He was born on July 10, 1952 in Minneapolis. He attended the University of Minnesota for his BA, MD, and surgery residency (he later earned his PhD). In 1975, he met his wife Pat, to whom he was married for 48 years. Bill was a distinguished surgeon and critical care specialist.. Eventually reaching the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, Bill began his career serving at U.S. Army hospitals in Kansas and Texas. In Texas, he was part of an elite Burn Unit; in 1989, Bill led a team from the unit on a disaster response mission to the Soviet Union. In 1990, he deployed to Saudi Arabia during the first Gulf War, receiving a Bronze Star. Bill was a committed educator and, after leaving the military, served as the Program Director of the UND Surgery Residency Program. Bill later served as Chief of Staff at both the Sioux Falls and Fargo VA hospitals. Bill is survived by his wife Patricia, daughters Amy and Anna (Mazen), and granddaughter Leonora; sister Julie Whelan; great-aunts Bonnie Roach and Charlotte Pehrson; sisters-in-law Deanna (Dave) Germain and Nancy (Pat) Sonnek; and many cousins, nieces, and nephews. Bill was preceded in death by his parents, William and Joan. A memorial service will be held on March 29 at 2pm at Boulger Funeral Home in Fargo, ND.