Betty Ann Decker, 74, a life long resident of the Park Rapids area, died Sunday, June 3, 2007, at the St. Joseph's Area Hospital in Park Rapids surrounded by her loved ones.
She was born May 13, 1933, in Park Rapids to Everet and Florence (Chandler) Arnold. It was in Park Rapids that she completed her formal public school education. As a young woman, she worked as a waitress at several area restaurants. Later, she ventured to the Minneapolis area and on Sept. 1, 1951, she married Loren Decker in Mound, Minn. In the late 1950s, the Decker family returned to the Park Rapids area where she devoted herself to making a warm and loving home for her husband and children. She was a wonderful cook and baker who will be long-remembered for her delicious home-made chow mein, pumpkin pies and breads.
In addition to homemaking, she worked for Ringers Manufacturing during the 1960s. In the 1970s, she began working for St. Joseph's Area Hospital in the housekeeping department in a career that spanned more than 15 years and earned her the position of supervisor. Her life was forever saddened by the double tragedy of the deaths of her husband and youngest son, Rick, in an automobile accident on Dec. 18, 1974.
She loved the outdoors, especially when she could be fishing on one of our area lakes or nurturing her beautiful flowers into colorful splendor out in her garden. She enjoyed people and especially looked forward to time spent with her family and close friends playing cards and board games.
Earlier in her life, she enjoyed attending area barn dances. In her quiet times, she was a voracious reader. Throughout her life, she had attended the Assembly of God Church in Park Rapids. She was also a member of the Otto Hendrickson American Legion Auxiliary in Park Rapids. Above all, she dedicated her life to her children, her grandchildren and her great-grandchildren, who she loved with all her heart.
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Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, June 7, at the Assembly of God Church in Park Rapids with the Rev. Arthur Wood officiating. The casketbearers will be her grandchildren: Chad Jensen, William Jensen, Kristy McGee, Justin Decker, Steven Decker, Emily Decker and Jenna Decker. The honorary casket bearers will be her great-grandchildren. Interment will be made in the Riverside Cemetery of Osage. The Jones-Pearson Funeral Home in Park Rapids is in charge of arrangements.
Survivors include her children, Dave Decker of Perham, Lorna (Gene) Boyd of Park Rapids, Kitty (Bernie) Vorel of Hackensack, and Cheryl (Wayne) Ronnebaum of Park Rapids; seven grandchildren and l4 great-grandchildren; one sister, Grace Whitman of Palmer, Alaska; as well as numerous nieces, nephews other relatives and many friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Loren; her son, Rick; five sisters, Ruby, Dorothy, Francis, Vera and Carol; her brother, John; two great-grandsons; as well as her special friend of 30 years, Virgil George.
