Marilyn Joan Becic

Marilyn was born on September 23, 1935 in Kearney, NE, the first of two children of Robert and Marjorie Burman.  Shortly thereafter, the family moved to Columbus, NE where Marilyn enjoyed an All-American childhood.  She played the piano and won several recital competitions, and was also in the Columbus High School marching band playing the clarinet.

After high school, the 1950’s, the family moved to Oregon and eventually settled in Portland.  Marilyn went on to Good Samaritan nursing school with a friend, and became an RN.  While in nursing school, she met the love of her life, Tom, at the Quality Pie shop on NW 23^rd avenue, a local hang out at the time.

She married Tom in 1957, became a member of the Catholic faith, and welcomed the first of their 3 children later that year.  Marilyn was a homemaker and worked part-time as a nurse, sometimes taking the graveyard shift to help the family finances.

Marilyn loved sewing, knitting, arts and crafts, toll painting and antiquing when she wasn’t raising her family and going to Tom’s baseball and volleyball games and her children’s sporting events.

In the 1970’s, she helped establish the Portland chapter of Birthright which is now Mother and Child, an agency that helps un-wed mothers.  She was a strong Pro-Life advocate.  She drove the girls to and from their prenatal appointments, sewed maternity clothes for them and helped them secure housing and made sure they got off in the right foot after the baby arrived.

She loved to entertain, for both family and friends, plan parties and host sports teams and LPGA golfers in her home that were in Portland for athletic competitions.

She took Chinese cooking classes, and then wowed her family with outstanding Chinese food diners. 

She embraced her husband’s Croatian heritage by learning how to cook Croatian meals, cookies and deserts.  She even took Croatian language classes after visiting Becic family members on a trip to Croatia in 1981.  By the time she made a second trip in 1983 she spoke Croatian with the family members in Split.

She was a great help to her Croatian mother-in-law, Lucy Becic, over the years, taking her to medical appointments, the hair salon and shopping, etc.  Lucy did not drive.  Later, when Lucy became elderly and ill, Marilyn cared for Lucy in her home until Lucy passed away.

At Christmas and birthday parties for her children and grandchildren she always made sure that everyone knew who provided the gift, and liked orderly present opening.  It was always cake and ice cream for the birthday events.

In retirement, she and Tom enjoyed golf at Columbia Edgewater Country Club where she made many good friends along with annual spring trips to Palm Springs for golf and socializing with friends that were snow birds as well.  She also chaired the cancer fundraising tournament at CECC as a cancer survivor herself.

Suffering from dementia, she entered hospice on March of 2022 and passed away on February 8, 2023.  The family is grateful for the loving care she received from Michelle Paveloni and staff at Noble House in NE Portland.

Her husband preceded her in death in 2016 and she is survived by her brother Richard (Dick) Burman, 3 children Tom Jr. (Robin), Steve (Susan) and Anne Marie Rosa (Charlie), 8 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren.

A Rosary and memorial mass will be held at St. Patrick’s catholic church on March 24^th.  Rosary held at 1:30 and the Memorial Mass at 2:00 pm.  A reception will follow at the parish hall.  All are welcome to attend. 

In Lieu of flowers the family suggests donations to Mother and Child, Providence Cancer or your preferred charity.