Lorenz C. "Larry" Becker of Des Plaines for 48 years Visitation for Lorenz C. Becker, 75, will be between the hours of 3 and 9 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 26, at Oehler Funeral Home, 2099 Miner St. (Northwest Highway/Route 14 at Rand Road), Des Plaines. Mr. Becker was the great-grandson of Lorenz and Elizabeth Becker, one of the pioneer families in the West Ridge neighborhood of Chicago. Mr. Becker's great-grandparents emigrated from Germany and homesteaded a farm that extended from Ridge west to California, and from Peterson north to Devon. Mr. Becker's grandfather, Michael, and his father, Lorenz, tended greenhouses in this area until 1929. Mr. Becker attended grade school at St. Henry, attended high school at St. Vincent DePaul Academy on an academic scholarship. He graduated from DePaul University in 1958. Mr. Becker, an accomplished athlete, played semiprofessional baseball in the Chicago area and was recruited by two major league baseball teams. His passion, however, was basketball. He played on the varsity squad at DePaul University, coached by the legendary Ray Meyer. Mr. Becker followed in the family tradition of commercial horticulture, For many years, he was the resident horticulturist of Plodzien Greenhouses at Wolcott and Peterson. He had a well earned reputation for his vibrant red Poinsettias. They were always the best available in the Chicago market. His greatest passion was mathematics. After graduating from DePaul, Mr. Becker accepted a teaching position at Wells High School at Augusta and Ashland in Chicago. Eventually he transferred to Sullivan High School on Bosworth and Pratt in Chicago. He eventually became head of the Math Department. His classroom demeanor was legendary. His take no prisoners, no nonsense approach elicited a positive response, even from the most reluctant student, He was a mentor for his colleagues as well as his students. Mr. Becker was also involved in his community. He was a contributor to the Veterans Memorial at Lake Park. He also served as a block captain as part of the CAPS program. He is survived by his sons, Thomas and Gerald; his sister, Marilyn; and his brother, George. He was preceded in death by his older brother, Donald. A prayer service will be held at the funeral home at 9:15 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 27, proceeding to a funeral Mass at St. Stephen Protomartyr in Des Plaines at 10 a.m. A graveside service will follow near his parents grave at All Saints Cemetery, Des Plaines. Memorials may be made in his name to St. Stephen Protomartyr Church, Des Plaines, IL 60018.