John D. Decker • 1917 - 2009

John D. Decker, 92, passed away Thursday, February 26, 2009, at his home in Minot. He was born February 3, 1917, in Dooley, Montana, to Fred and Gladys (Devine) Decker.

The family moved to Minot in 1928, where John attended Minot public schools, graduating from Model High in 1934. He went to Minot State University for one year before heading west where he married Lucille Galvin, also of Minot, in Eugene Oregon, on June 24, 1936.

The couple returned to Minot in August of 1937, where they operated the Westland Oil Service Center and Decker's Recap Plant until November of 1942, when John enlisted in the Army Air Corp and served for three years as a World War II bomber pilot.

After the war, he returned to Minot where he and Lucille raised their three children and John owned and operated a number of businesses, including Culligan Soft Water and TBA Wholesalers. He was also one of the original organizers of Investors Real Estate Trust and First Western Bank.

John was a North Dakota state senator from 1967-69, a delegate to the North Dakota Constitutional Convention and a commissioner on the North Dakota Economic Development Commission for ten years.

He was chairman of the Bishop Ryan High School building committee, a member of the Little Flower Church building committee and the Minot City Planning Commission, chairman of the Minot Park Board, member and director of the Minot Chamber of Commerce and the Minot Kiwanis Club and served on the boards of the Ward County Red Cross, the Great Plains Boy Scout Council and active in the Minot Elks, Eagles and American Legion.

Minot had no bigger booster than John. He loved his hometown and its people and felt they had provided him and his family with a wonderful life, which is why he was such an enthusiastic supporter and fundraiser for so many community and educational organizations in the city and around the state. In May of 2004, he received an honorary doctorate from the University of Mary in Bismarck. As a product of the Great Depression who had never had the opportunity to finish college, he delighted in the honor.

John was an avid hunter, fisherman, and sports fan. He and Lucille traveled extensively worldwide and, for 30 years, spent winters in Mesa, AZ, until Lucille's death in December of 2001. John remarried in October of 2003 to Marion (McShane) Henjum Koll.

In addition to his wife, Marion, John is survived by his children, Jack (and wife, Marjorie) Decker, Mark, and Mary Decker; grandchildren, Jeff (and wife, Josie) Decker, Kristin (and husband, Nate) Donahue, and Christopher Reed; great-grandchildren, Kendyl and Blythe Decker; sister-in-law, Clara Decker; brother-in-law, Harold Iverson; step-children, Janet (and husband, Herman) Muhlbradt, and Dan, Katherine and John (and wife, Kathleen) Henjum.

John was preceded in death by his parents; first wife, Lucille; brother, Chester "Chet" and sisters, Phyllis (and husband, Erling) Muus, Marion Iverson, and Margaret Ann and Susan Decker.

Public Visitation: Monday, March 2, 2009, from noon to 5 p.m. at Thompson-Larson Funeral Home, Minot, and from 6 to 7 pm at Little Flower Catholic Church, Minot.

Vigil Prayer Service: Monday, March 2, 2009, at 7 p.m. at Little Flower Catholic Church, Minot.

Mass of Christian Burial: Tuesday, March 3, 2009, at 11:30 a.m. at Little Flower Catholic Church, Minot.

A hot lunch will be served in the Little Flower Elementary School cafeteria (adjacent to the church) immediately following the mass.

Interment: Rosehill Memorial Park, Minot, ND (burial will be held at a future date)

Memorials: John's family suggests contributions be made to the Minot Catholic Schools system, The John and Lucille Decker Endowment Fund at Minot State University or The John D. Decker and Lucille Decker Charitable Fund at the University of Mary in Bismarck, ND.

Service Participants
Father Fred Harvey - Celebrant of the Liturgies
Deacon Pat Cunningham - Vigil Prayer Service
Jeff Decker and Christopher Reed - Readers
John's Grandchildren - Gift Bearers

Music
Processional Hymn: "You Are Mine" #475
Offertory Hymn: "Prayer of St. Francis" #497
Communion Hymn: "Ave Maria"
Commendation: "Song of Farewell"
Recessional Hymn: "Amazing Grace" #442
John Henjum and Katherine Henjum, Vocalist/Song Leader
Jeanne Artz, Organist

Honorary Bearers: Kristen Donahue, Jeff Decker, Christopher Reed

Military honors accorded by the North Dakota Army National Funeral Honor Guard in the spring of 2009.

Our family would like to thank all of you for your many acts of kindness. Your thoughts and prayers are greatly appreciated during this difficult time. May God bless the memory of John.

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To view the online guest register for John

To view the outside of John's folder
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