Perry Becker, hobby store owner and steam photographer, dies at 90

MORGAN, Minn. — If you’ve attended a railroad hobby show or flea market in the Midwest in the past few decades, you couldn’t help but see the signs and tables for Perry’s Hobbies. Based in tiny Morgan, Minn., southwest of the Twin Cities, owner Perry Becker established the business in 1966. Becker, 90, died of cancer Sept. 18.

Perry’s Hobbies grew into a retailer of model railroading equipment, books, and media and was well known for its large stock. Becker was joined in the business by his brother Jim and nephew Paul, who were all regulars at the train shows where Perry displayed his wares. They also conducted a thriving mail-order business.

Becker was introduced to trains at a young age by his father and held that interest throughout his life. He began photographing steam trains in the 1950s, and traveled the Midwest and west in search of the last of steam. He developed a special affinity for Union Pacific’s Big Boys, and spent time photographing them at the end of steam on Wyoming’s famed Sherman Hill between Cheyenne and Laramie.

Closer to home, Becker shot steam locomotives on the Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range Railway, including its famed Yellowstones. “He rode many of the early steam trips on the DM&IR,” said David C. Schauer, former president of the Missabe Railroad Historical Society. “Until recently he was a regular at our conventions. He was a great supporter of the Society and will be greatly missed.” Becker donated his collection of DM&IR slides to the Society, which produced a CD with scans of them a few years ago.

Always a steam fan, in the early 2000s he made three trips to China to photograph steam locomotives. He was thrilled that Union Pacific revived Big Boy No. 4014 and made a point of shooting it when it visited the Midwest. His last steam photography was earlier this year when Canadian Pacific 4-6-4 No. 2816 passed through the region.

Becker was always involved in his community. He earned the Eagle Scout award in 1950, and throughout his life supported the Eagle Scout Association. He was a member of the Morgan Lions Club since 1956 during which he held all offices and enjoyed working at the Redwood County Fair, Farmfest, and other fundraising activities with his fellow Lions. He received the Helen Keller Sight award and became a Melvin Jones Fellow for his commitment to the Lions organization. He joined his parents in operating Becker’s Super Valu Grocery Store, taking ownership of the business from 1973 to 1998.

He met his wife, Arliss, in the eighth grade and called her his “best friend” for 69 years. They married June 5, 1955. He is survived by his wife, daughters Nancy Becker, Laurie (Ken) Dittbenner and Sarah (Daryl) Seifert and several grandchildren and great grandchildren. His last community event was as Grand Marshal with Arliss in the Morgan City and Country Days parade in June 2024.

Funeral services are being held today (Sept. 26) in Morgan. The family will later travel to Sherman Hill to scatter his ashes along the Union Pacific tracks that he so loved.