Husband Michael Earl "Mike" Becraft [10576]
Born: 10 May 1946
Christened:
Died: 17 Jul 2013 - Layton, Davis Co, UT
Buried: 23 Jul 2013 - Linquist Memorial Park, Layton, Davis Co, UT
Find A Grave ID: 114031327
Father: Henry Taylor Becraft [2421] (1920-2015)
Mother: Virginia Belnap Fowers [10574] (1921-2017)
Marriage:
Events
• Event: Standard-Examiner Davis Bureau, 23 Dec 2011. Firefighters come to retiree's rescue with wheelchair ramp
By Loretta Park
Standard-Examiner Davis Bureau
Fri, 12/23/2011 - 12:21am
Images
North Davis Fire District Capt. Mark Weekes helps build a wheelchair ramp for retired fire inspector Mike Becraft, 65, of Layton. (Contributed photo)
Utah State Firemen's Association members and North Davis Fire District firefighters recently spent a Saturday building a ramp for retired firefighter Mike Becraft, who now uses a wheelchair for mobility because of progressive supranuclear palsy, a brain disease with no known cause, treatment or cure. Becraft, 65, started his firefighting career in Roy at 18 and retired as North Davis Fire District fire inspector in 2010. Because Becraft needed a ramp from his house to his garage, North Davis Fire District firefighters Kevin Lloyd (from left), Luke Watkins and Jeremy Krage jumped in to work with Capt. Mark Weekes and others to build and install it. The materials were donated. (Contributed photo)
Members of the North Davis Fire District and the Utah State Firemen's Association helped build and install this wheelchair ramp for retired fire inspector Mike Becraft, 65, of Layton. (Contributed photo)
North Davis Fire District Capt. Mark Weekes helps build a wheelchair ramp for retired fire inspector Mike Becraft, 65, of Layton. (Contributed photo)
LAYTON -- Lisa Becraft knew firefighters take care of each other.
But that knowledge didn't prepare the woman, who is caring for her husband Mike Becraft, for the service of willing firefighters, who recently built a wheelchair ramp at her home.
The Utah Firemen Association with North Davis Fire District learned that Mike Becraft, a retired firefighter, could no longer move without the assistance of a wheelchair.
"It's only been for the last three months that he has needed a wheelchair," said Lisa Becraft.
Mike Becraft, 65, was diagnosed with progressive supranuclear palsy.
PSP is a brain disease that has no known cause, treatment or cure. It affects nerve cells that control walking, balance, mobility, vision, speech, and swallowing, according to the CurePSP website.
Mike Becraft retired from the North Davis Fire District in 2010, Lisa Becraft said. He made fire fighting a career when he joined the Roy Fire Department in 1975 at the age of 18.
He served as the fire chief for the Defense Depot of Ogden until it closed, then worked for Layton Fire Department for 10 years before heading to North Davis Fire District, where he was employed as the fire inspector, she said.
Taking her 6-foot, 190-pound husband anywhere became difficult, Lisa Becraft said. She had to help him walk down the stairs from her home into her garage.
And then help him walk back up the stairs when she got home.
"Basically, I was carrying him," Lisa Becraft said.
Lisa Becraft said she talked to the certified nursing assistant who comes to their home about a ramp, and she learned how much it was going to cost.
She also mentioned the need for a ramp to Mike Becraft's brother, Jerry Becraft, who is a fire inspector with Roy Fire Department.
Jerry Becraft called his son, Mark Becraft, who is the deputy fire chief at North Davis Fire District.
"I asked Capt. (Roger) Montgomery if we could do this through the firemen association," Mark Becraft said.
Mark Becraft "just asked me to do it and I did," Montgomery said. "It's no big deal."
Montgomery and another firefighter showed up at the Becraft home to measure the area for the ramp. Montgomery contacted his in-laws, who own Worldwide Packaging & Crating in Clearfield. They donated the lumber of the ramp.
And then on Dec. 18, firefighters delivered lumber to the Becraft home.
"I asked them what was going on, and they said it was for the ramp," Lisa Becraft said.
The following day, between 10 and 15 firefighters with carpentry skills and equipment, including Jerry Becraft, showed up on their own time to hammer, saw and drill into place a wooden ramp.
"They whipped it out in three hours," Lisa Becraft said.
"It's perfect," Lisa Becraft said about the ramp.
Lisa Becraft can now wheel her husband of 25 years out of the house and into the car.
Before the ramp was installed, Lisa Becraft said they limited their trips to necessities.
"Now we can go on fun trips, like the movies and stuff," she said.
Her husband is "absolutely awed" that those he worked with thought enough of him to help him, Lisa Becraft said.
"This was a wonderful gesture," she said. "There is no way we can repay them enough for what they did for us."
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• His obituary was published in the Standard-Examiner on 19 Jul 2013. Michael Earl Becraft
May 10, 1946 ~ July 17, 2013
U.S. Veteran
Michael Earl Becraft
LAYTON \endash Michael Earl Becraft, 67, passed away Wednesday, July 17, 2013 at his home surrounded by his loved ones.
Mike was born to proud parents Taylor and Virginia Becraft on May 10, 1946.
He worked over 40 years in the Fire Fighting field, holding numerous titles, Fire Fighter, EMT, Fire Inspector, Fire Chaplain, Asst. Chief and Fire Chief. Mike worked at Defense Depot Ogden for over 35 years, retiring as Fire Chief. Because of his love and dedication for the Fire Fighting profession he continued working as a Fire Inspector for Clearfield City and North Davis Fire District, until his illness forced his retirement.
Mike enjoyed having coffee with the boys, golfing, racquetball, working his farm and hanging with his dogs, Jed, Sadie and Gertie.
Mike is survived by his wife of 29 years, Lisa, his wonderful sister-in-law Debbie, who took wonderful care of him, Lindsay and Todd, who also took great care of Mike, three children, Kelly (Tanya) Becraft, Julie Becraft, Becky Butler, seven grandchildren, special nieces, Jordan and Lindsay. He is also survived by his loving parents, Taylor and Virginia Becraft, brother, Jerry (Josie) Becraft, sister, Susan Hall, brother-in-laws, Terry (Julie) Uhrig, Todd (Julie) Jauch, great friend, Alton Fischer and his four legged son, Jed.
The family would like to thank CNS Hospice and the wonderful care they gave Mike. We personally want to thank Scott, Carrie, April, Dave and Tyson for all their love and support they showed Mike all these years.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday, July 23, 2013 at 11 a.m. at Lindquist's Layton Mortuary, 1867 No. Fairfield Road. Friends may visit family Tuesday from 9 to 10:45 a.m. at the mortuary. Interment, Lindquist's Memorial Park at Layton, 1867 No. Fairfield Road.
Wife Lisa Gail Uhrig [10580] (details suppressed for this person)
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Children
1 M Kelly Becraft [12629] (details suppressed for this person)
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Spouse: Tanya [12633] (living)
2 F Julie Becraft [12630] (details suppressed for this person)
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3 F Becky Becraft [12631] (details suppressed for this person)
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Spouse: Butler [12632] (living)