Becker

—The Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS) and Johanne M. Becker, the surviving spouse of Alexander M. Becker, deceased, and special administrator of his estate, appeal from an order of the Riverside Superior Court commanding PERS to pay to the decedent’s divorced former wife, Arlene M. Becker, a sum equal to one-half of the contributions to the retirement system made by the decedent during his marriage to Arlene M. Becker and prior to their separation.

*68 Facts

Alexander M. Becker (the decedent) and Arlene M. Becker (former wife) were married in June 1943 and separated in January 1979. The decedent became employed by the California Department of Corrections in 1965 and as an incident of his employment became a member of the Public Employees’ Retirement System. At the time of separation, the decedent had been employed by the Department of Corrections for approximately 14 years. Following the separation, the decedent continued in that employment for approximately three additional years until his death on February 5, 1982, at which time he was fifty-nine years old. Throughout the employment monthly contributions to the retirement system were deducted from the…