Born in Rensselaerville in 1921, Randy was the son of Frank and Olive Becker and spent his early years in Huntersland. A graduate of Middleburgh Central School, he attended Syracuse University.

Randy joined the United States Army Air Corps in 1942 during World War II and was honorably discharged in 1946.

Randy joined the MTC in 1948 and helped break ground in 1953 on the location of the firm’s headquarters at the corner of Cliff Street and Wells Avenue. During his 58 years at the MTC, Randy directed the growth of the company from just 200 access lines to more than 7,200. MTC now serves more than 350 square miles in Schoharie County and parts of Albany County.

Randy oversaw the expansion of local and long-distance telephone service, cable TV, DSL and Internet services. In April 2005, SUNY Cobleskill presented its annual Community Champion Award to MTC.

As a devoted resident of Middleburgh, Randy always spent a considerable amount of his time, energy and talents helping the community to grow and improve. His contributions to the community were numerous. Over the years he has served as an officer of the Middleburgh Methodist Church, superintendent of Sunday School, and was chairman of the Building Committee for the new fellowship hall.

He was Master of the Masonic Lodge (No. 663), past president of the Rotary Club, and he was Rotary Club Citizen of the Year in 2001. He has also been a member of the Middleburgh Fire Department, a member of American Legion, served as manager of the Middleburgh and Schoharie Little League and served on the Salvation Army Service Unit Committee as well as the county Red Cross Unit.

His long-standing service positions include being councilman on the Middleburgh Town Board from 1950-1969, and on the board of the New York State Telephone Association (NYSTA) from 1974 through 1986. Randy was honored for his 20 years of service on the Middleburgh Town Board by his fellow board members at the Lamp Post Tavern in 1997. The town also honored Randy in July of 1997, for outstanding community service when he was named Centennial Citizen of the town of Middleburgh.

In 2004, the town of Middleburgh established The Marge and Randy Becker Community Service Award to recognize a community member who exemplifies outstanding community service annually.

In January, Marge and Randy established a non-profit organization to benefit the village of Middleburgh and Schoharie County. A gift to The Friends of Bassett towards the establishment of a Bassett Health Center in Middleburgh was also made.

Randy married the love of his life, Marjorie Silliman Rose, in 1946, and raised four sons. Even as he and Marge raised their family, Randy became involved in many of the local Middleburgh organizations, often holding a position of leadership. One of the most enjoyable activities that Randy became involved in with his boys and his community was the local Boy Scouts. Randy became a troop committeeman in 1961, and was elected Scoutmaster of Troop 2 in 1962. Randy attended Crumhorn Mountain Boy Scout Camp with his troop four summers in a row.

In 1964, he was selected Scoutmaster of one of the council’s two troops to the National Jamboree in Valley Forge, Pa. During his many devoted hours to Scouting, Randy served as a member of the council’s executive board and as co-chairman of the Delotscho District Finance Committee.

Not only did Randy lead his young troop members in many Boy Scout activities, he and Marge worked closely with their four sons to become Eagle Scouts and helped them obtain their God and Country Awards. In recognition of his distinguished service to Boy Scouts, Randy received the Silver Beaver Award in 1968, the highest honor accorded an adult scout leader by Otschodela Boy Scout Council. Randy was only the third Middleburgh resident to receive this distinguished award.

Randy is survived by his wife, Marge Becker, of Middleburgh; and his four sons, Randall "Scott" (wife Barbara) Becker of Esperance, Edmund "Ned" (wife Kathleen) Becker of Atlanta, Ga., Chris Becker (wife Christine) and Bruce (wife Michele) Becker, both of Middleburgh. Marge and Randy also have five grandchildren, James Becker, Jason Becker, Keith Becker, Lori Mollitor and Jordan Becker. In recent years, their family has grown with the addition of seven great-grandchildren, Brett, Dylan, Alanna, Hailey, Johannah, Megan and Jacob.

A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 4, 2006, at the Middleburgh United Methodist Church, Main Street, Middleburgh. The Rev. Carol Coltrain will officiate, assisted by the Rev. Paul Ferenczy.

Burial will take place in Middleburgh Cemetery.

Friends may call 5 to 8 p.m. today, April 3, 2006, at the Palmer & Shaylor Inc. Funeral Home, 134 River St., Middleburgh.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at: www.palmershaylorfuneralhome.com.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Middleburgh Health Center in care of Scott A. Barrett, Executive Director, Friends of Bassett, One Atwell Road, Cooperstown, NY 13326, the Middleburgh Library, PO Box 670, Middleburgh, NY 12122, or Albany Medical Center Foundation, 43 New Scotland Ave., Mailcode 119, Albany, NY 12208-3478.

Norma was born June 3, 1952, to Anthony J. and Mona S. (Newhart) Otello. She grew up on Fonda Avenue, in an area of Oneonta known as the "Lower Deck," surrounded by many friends and relatives.

In 1970, Norma graduated from Oneonta High School and continued her education at Delhi Tech, where she focused on studies in administration.

In 1973, she married her first husband, Ralph E. Morse, and had two children, Bryon J. Morse and Kevin R. Morse.

Norma was employed by Time Warner Cable where she excelled as a customer service representative for more than 20 years.

In 2002, Norma moved to Syracuse with her companion, Thomas J. Speranzi. While in Syracuse, Norma worked as a legal assistant and volunteered some of her free time to help out at an area homeless shelter.

Norma returned to Oneonta in 2004, married Thomas Speranzi in May of 2005, and bravely dealt with her illness until March of 2006.

Norma enjoyed traveling and often took trips to Allentown, Pa., to be around the many family members she had there.

Norma was an excellent cook and always made delicious meals and treats for her family and friends. Other hobbies that Norma spent much of her life pursuing were reading, mentoring young girls, watching movies, dinner outings, enjoying her pets, and she was a loyal and steadfast New York Yankees fan.

Most of all, Norma loved to spend quality time with the ones she loved; her children, grandchildren, husband, grandmother, cousins, her many friends and her pets.

In every role that Norma had during her life she showed compassion, love and friendship. The time that she spent here will be cherished by everyone who knew her and she will be greatly missed.

In addition to her husband, Thomas J. Speranzi, Norma is survived by two sons, Bryon J. Morse and his wife, Heather, and daughter, Avery Olivia, and Kevin R. Morse and his wife, Alysa, and their children, Isaak and David. Norma is also survived by three stepchildren, Rachel, Thomas and Marie.

Norma was predeceased by her mother, Mona S. Otello, her father, Anthony J. Otello, and her brother, Vincent Otello.

A memorial service will be held at the Lester R. Grummons Funeral Home, 14 Grand St., Oneonta, at 2 p.m. Tuesday, April 4, 2006, with the Rev. Joseph Benintende, pastor of St. Mary’s Church, officiating. Friends may call at the funeral home from noon until service time Tuesday.

Norma’s remains will be laid to rest in the Mount Calvary Cemetery, next to her parents and her brother, later this spring.

In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy in the form of donations may be made to the Catskill Area Hospice or the American Cancer Society.

Arrangements are by the Lester R. Grummons Funeral Home of Oneonta.

A longtime resident of the Downsville area, she was born Oct. 26, 1911, in Dunraven, the daughter of Franklin and Sarah (Yeomans) Barber.

Dot married Wilbur F. Watson on Jan. 7, 1932.

Survivors include her husband and children, Glenn "Luke" and Betty Watson of Downsville, Betty and Stan Wonnell of Sedalia, Ky., Don and Carol Watson of Phoenix, Ariz., Art and Regina Watson of Corbett, Charlotte Miller of Oneonta, Jeanette and Don Byington of Manchester, N.J., and Carol Watson of Montrose, Colo.; 23 grandchildren; 45 great-grandchildren; 14 great-great grandchildren; a brother, Paul Barber of Hopewell Junction, and several nieces and nephews.

She attended St. Mary’s Episcopal Church and was a member of the James S. Moore Post 167, American Legion Auxiliary of Downsville.

Dot was predeceased by sons Bill Watson and Michael Watson and son-in-law, William C. Miller.

A memorial service will be held later at the discretion of the family.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in her name to a charity of your choice.

She was born March 23, 1938, in Cooperstown, daughter of the late Russell and Lillian Salisbury Aunger. A lifelong area resident, she was raised in Cooperstown and educated in Cooperstown High School.

On Oct. 15, 1960, she was united in marriage with William O. Maksuta in the Christ Episcopal Church, Cooperstown. They resided in Oneonta until 1963, and then moved to Richfield Springs.

In 1971, she went to work as a bookkeeper in the Otsego County Treasurer’s Office, retiring in 1998, after 27 years of dedicated service.

Lorna’s joy in life was her home and family. In her leisure time, you would find her knitting, crocheting and doing cross-stitch.

She will be truly missed by her many friends, especially her family.

Surviving are her devoted husband of 45 years, William O. Maksuta; one son, Russell P. and his wife, Yvette, Maksuta of Allen, Texas; a daughter, Donna Stokes and her companion, Mike Acker, of Warren; four grandchildren, Stephen and Alan Stokes and Seth and Nicolas Maksuta.

Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by a sister, Harriett Aunger.

Funeral service will be at 8 p.m. Tuesday at J. Seaton McGrath Funeral Home, 40 West James St., Richfield Springs. The Rev. John Dixon Bartl, rector of Saint John’s Episcopal Church, Richfield Springs, will officiate.

Interment in Hartwick Seminary Cemetery will be later this spring.

The family will be present in the funeral home to receive relatives and friends Tuesday evening two hours prior to the funeral service, from 6 to 8 p.m.

Expressions of sympathy may be made with memorial donations to the Richfield Springs Emergency Rescue Squad or Catskill Area Hospice. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.

He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Dorothy Niles Hamlin; a son, Kim Robert Hamlin and his wife, C. Diann; a grandson, Robert Ray Hamlin; sisters, Margaret and Elizabeth; and many nieces and nephews.

Sergeant R.A. Hamlin served in the Korean War, 1952-1963, and was awarded the Expert Rifleman’s Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Combat Infantry Badge, Korean Service Medal with three Bronze Combat Stars, United Nations Service Medal and the Korean War Service Medal awarded on the 50th anniversary of the war.

Robert worked for NYSEG for 38 years, retiring as a chief lineman.

He wished to be remembered for loving his family, especially his grandson, Robert Ray Hamlin, and for loving the outdoors, work, animals and life in general.

It was Robert’s request that he be cremated and that his ashes be interred in Pine Grove Cemetery in Deposit.

There will be a private graveside funeral and committal service at a later date.

Friends wishing may make donations to Peace Plantation, 12752 State Highway 206, Walton, NY 13856 in memory of Robert A. Hamlin.

Funeral arrangements are through the Zacharias Funeral Home in Deposit.

Arrangements are pending with Robert A. Peet, Hall & Peet Funeral Home, Delhi.

A complete obit will appear in Tuesday’s edition of The Daily Star.