Ned L. Decker, 91
Ned L. Decker, 91, passed away on Oct. 2, 2007, at his son's home in Libby. He was born April 28, 1916, in Ironton, Mich., to father, Fred R. Decker, and mother, Martha R. Spencer. At six months of age his mother brought him to Augusta, on the train where his father and twin brother, Frank, were logging with horses.
They later moved to the Libby area where Ned and his two brothers grew up. Ned graduated from Libby High School in 1934. He started hand logging with his father until 1936.
He married Maybelle I. Hall on April 6, 1940, after a courtship at church functions and youth group.
He started working for J. Neils Lumber Co. in 1938 pulling a crosscut saw. He sawed logs until he started operating a dozer in 1945. With that change he was drafted into the Army. He served as a nurse on the hospital ship USS Hope Liberty until 1946. Upon discharge he moved back to Libby to work for J. Neil's Lumber Co.
He moved to Rexford in 1950 where the last permanent logging camp was set up on the river. Ned worked for J. Neils and St. Regis at Rexford as a dozer operator, skid crew foreman and road foreman. He worked until his retirement in 1962.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Maybelle; twin sons; his parents; his sister, Frances Cadis; and his brothers, Perry Eldon and Harold Montana Decker.
Although Ned enjoyed work and spending time outdoors, his focus and love in life was his acceptance of Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord at 16 years of age. That relationship overflowed into every aspect of his life. He enjoyed meeting people and was always interested in knowing aspects of all working fields and was a good student of many wide and varied subjects. He had an excellent memory for people, places, dates and the Bible.
He enjoyed serving on the R.E.A. board at Lincoln Electric, church boards, Gideons, and the Rexford School Board; he was also a Boy Scout leader, youth leader, and an adult Sunday School teacher.
He always tried to give his best helping others. Often when visiting with anyone it wouldn't take long to talk on most any subject and people were amazed at the depth of knowledge Ned had stored in his head.
He is survived by daughters, Caroline, and husband, Ron St. Onge, of Bigfork, Kathryn and husband, Dan Emerson, of Ronan, Jeannette and husband, Arnold Hansen Jr.; and son, Gene and wife, Lorraine, of Libby. He had 26 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Viewing will be from 1 to 8 p.m. today, Oct. 5, at the Nelson & Vial Funeral Home in Libby. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. today, Oct. 5, at the funeral home. Services will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 6, at the Christian Church, 100 Kootenai River Road in Libby.
In lieu of flowers a donation in his name to the St. John's Home Health and Hospice Care or the Gideons would be appreciated.