Troy Becker

Montana native and long-time Billings resident Troy Becker passed away Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2007 from a self inflicted gunshot wound. He was 36.

Troy was born April 10, 1971 in Libby to Richard Becker and Sharron Stompro, where he lived for many years before moving as a teenager with his family to Missoula. In Missoula, he graduated from Sentinel High School and later attended Montana State University in Bozeman.

During his childhood in Libby, Troy played sports and developed a passion for the outdoors, especially the mountains and forests around his childhood home. He loved hunting, fishing, skiing, boating, scuba diving, and camping with his family and many, many friends.

Troy was a talented musician, playing both drums and guitar in many groups from the time he was a teenager onward, and he also had a great affinity for all things mechanical and an unmatched talent for "tearing things apart and putting them back together."

He loved working with his hands, which led him to adventures in Montana, California, and Europe; a number of seasons working on fishing boats in Alaska; a ski resort in Utah; and his eventual career as a contractor for more than a decade in the Billings area.

Above all of his many and varied interests that included politics, religion, and being active in community issues and youth soccer; Troy was extremely passionate about his many friends and family. He was well-known for lending a helping hand to his neighbors, friends, and those in need; and was admired by many for his outgoing and gregarious personality, generous spirit, creativity, sense of humor, experimental cooking, and extremely passionate views on every topic imaginable. His caring nature and enthusiasm for everyone in his life will be greatly missed by everyone who's lives he touched.

Troy is preceded in death by his mother, Sharron Stompro, who passed away this past summer. He is survived by his wife, Jody; his children, Mercedes, Conner, Torrey, Tommy, Jack, Rheanna, and Jared; his father, Richard; and his brothers and sister, Scott, Mark, Paul, Zach, and Terra.

Troy was a very dedidicated father and his children adored him.

Funeral services were on Saturday, Nov. 24.