Twyla Becker-Kleen

October 19, 1957 - January 31, 2021

Twyla A. Becker-Kleen, age 63, of Storm Lake, Iowa passed away on January 31, 2021 at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska, from complications associated with her extensive battle with myelodysplastic syndrome. Funeral services will take place Friday, February 5, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. at the Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake where masks will be required. To watch the recording of the service, please visit Twyla's tribute wall. Burial will be in the Covenant Cemetery in rural Pomeroy, Iowa. Visitation will take place Thursday, February 4, 2021 from 4-7:00 p.m. at the Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in STORM LAKE. Friends are encouraged to attend the visitation as space is limited at the funeral service. In celebration of her life and in lieu of flowers, she asked that people bring backpacks full of school supplies that will be donated to kids in need in the Storm Lake Elementary Schools. Memorials can also be written to the family of Twyla Becker-Kleen for donations of playground equipment. The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake is in charge of the arrangements. Twyla was born on October 19, 1957 in Fort Dodge, Iowa. She graduated from Pocahontas High School, and from Des Moines Area Community College and Iowa Lakes Community College, with additional degrees from the Rehab Institute of Chicago and Almeda University of Boise, Idaho. Twyla sparkled her way through her life which was evident by several awards and accolades including: 1993 Association of Rehabilitation—National Staff Nurse of the Year, 1994 award given by United Airlines and Iowa House of Representatives for saving a life on an airplane, 1999 Association of Rehabilitation—National Case Manager Award, 2009 100 Iowa’s Greatest Nurses Award recipient, 2012 Dr. Glass from the Iowa Department of Education visited Storm Lake to see what school nurses do, 2013 she was featured in newest Julia Cook book, “The Can in Cancer”, 2014 Iowa School Nurse of the Year, and 2018 Excellence in Pediatrics School Health by March of Dimes. She held multiple certifications and loved sharing her knowledge with others through instruction and unique/memorable skits and presentations. Twyla was a great advocate for school nurses by serving on the ISNO Board and showing no fear in giving school nurses a voice with legislators. Twyla was very proud of all of her children at Storm Lake Elementary School – all 900 school children she worked tirelessly to share her special glitter with to help them shine too! She will be deeply missed by all who knew her – for all that knew her, loved her. Twyla enjoyed home décor, crafts with sparkle and shine, shopping, diet mt. dew, was a HUGE fan of Garth Brooks, and always kept her eye out for anything for “her kids”. Memories of her will be cherished by her mother, Carol Becker of Yankton, South Dakota; sister, Carla (Randy) Hummel of Utica, South Dakota; niece, Valerie (Seth) Hummel-LaBounty of Hartford, South Dakota; nephew, Samuel Hummel (Raelle & Millie) of Cody, Wyoming; very dear friends, caregivers, and casket bearers: Mary Baskerville, Sandy Wells, Tracey Bailey, Janet Schoon, Sue Freeman, Cindy Forbes, and Jeannie Schwarzkopf. As well as so many other extended family, friends and kids from over the years that she impacted in so many ways. Preceded in death by her father, Delmar Becker; brother, Timothy Becker; both paternal and maternal grandparents.