Otto Becker believes volunteer work is a great way to give back.

Since the 1950s, Becker and his wife have volunteered for organizations such as the Boy Scouts, Ride Service and the Freeborn County Historical Museum. The Beckers also spent 4 1/2 months volunteering at a Lutheran school in West Africa.

Becker recently completed a project at the Freeborn County Historical Museum making a sign with Louis Henderson. The sign will hold the names of people who have contributed money to the museum.

Becker estimates that more that 100 hours were spent on making the sign.

Becker sees his volunteer work as a way to pay back the community for his blessed life.

“Albert Lea has been good to me and my wife,” he said. “This is a way to give back.”

Becker also can’t comprehend not having volunteer work as part of his life.

“We are just plain volunteers, that’s all there is to it,” he said.