Our History

Our Story

Stanton Mortuary was established in 1915 by William and Martha (Tanner) Stanton at 111 N. Fifth St. The business was moved to the present location at 800 Kansas Ave. three years later.

From 1944 to 1962 the firm was operated by William and Amelia (Fox) Stanton, Jr. Mr. Paul Blythe purchased the business in 1964. The mortuary became incorporated in 1971 under the ownership of Paul Blythe, Floyd Ruhnke and Ray Gardner.

On Oct. 5, 1982, Bryan and Patricia Becker purchased Mr. Blythe's and Mr. Ruhnke’s Stock in the mortuary. Mr. Gardner continued as a stockholder until 1986 when he sold his interest to the Beckers. The name was changed to Becker-Stanton Mortuary,Inc.

The Sawin Dyer Mortuary,Inc. was established in 1898 as the Sawin-Douglas Funeral Home. J.W. Dyer and Fred Dyer purchased the firm in 1945. J.W. Dyer had been an employee of the firm since the 1930’s and the Harouff-Buis Funeral Home had previously employed Fred Dyer. The brother’s operated the business until they purchased the Harouff-Buis Firm.

For the next 20 years J.W. Dyer and another brother, Harold Dyer operated the Sawin-Dyer Funeral Home while Fred Dyer operated the Harouff-Buis Funeral Home. Harold Dyer purchased the Sawin-Dyer Funeral Home in 1971. In 1984, he sold the business to his son, David Dyer.

The Becker-Stanton Mortuary and the Sawin-Dyer Mortuary merged together to form the Becker-Dyer-Stanton Funeral Home on Feb. 1, 1991. On Dec. 31, 1991 the Becker-Dyer-Stanton Funeral Homes purchased the O’Trimble Funeral Homes in Effingham, and Nortonville, KS from William and Mary O’Trimble.

In May of 2011 the Sunset Memory Gardens, 10254 HWY 7, Atchison KS, was acquired by the Becker family to expand their tradition of caring in the Atchison community. Future expansion of offerings to include cremation columbariums, upright grave markers, vault sales, pet burial and pet cremation. 


Present full time staff of the funeral home include Bryan and Patricia Becker, Tim Becker, Jason Dorman and Jamie Collins. Part-time support staff include, Ron Tuley, Nancy Jones, Jennifer Bissell,  Matthew Carr, Terry Hanshaw, David Myers.
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