Cover photo for Patricia "Patsy" Decker's Obituary
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Patricia "Patsy" Decker

August 22, 1922 — March 13, 2020

Patricia "Patsy" Decker

Funeral Mass for Patsy Decker, 97, of Hermantown, MN, formerly of Belfield, will be 10:00 a.m., Saturday, March 14, 2020 at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church in Belfield with Father Shane Campbell celebrating. Burial will follow in St. Bernard’s Cemetery.

Visitation for Patsy will be from 4:00 p.m. -7:00 p.m., Friday, March 13th at Stevenson Funeral Home with a rosary and vigil service being held at 6:00 p.m.

Patsy passed away February 27, 2020 at Essentia Hospital in Duluth, MN.

Patricia Decker was born August 22, 1922 to Anton and Annie (Barta) Hibl. As a young girl, she attended Spring Creek School (a one room school northeast of Belfield) from 1928-1936. Patsy loved sharing the story of walking or riding a horse and buggy to school. In the winter, it was a horse drawn sleigh. She met the love of her life, Adam Decker at a barn dance in 1938 and they courted for about a year. At the age of sixteen, Patsy married Adam in June of 1939. They were blessed and started their family of six children in 1941. Adam was drafted into the Army during World War II and was stationed at Camp Lee, VA and later Seattle, WA. In 1945, they purchased a little house in Belfield on Main Street. Patsy’s dream home, which was filled with clever ideas she had gathered for years, was built in 1965 on the family farm. After fifty years in their home of many memories, Patsy moved to Fargo for a year before moving to Hermantown, MN.

Patsy was a devout Roman Catholic and attended mass daily. She was a member of Catholic Daughters and the Christian Mothers Guild. She faithfully kept her Saturday Holy Hour of Perpetual Adoration and took care of the replacement votive candles on the side altar. Patsy had a strong devotion to the Rosary which was a constant in her life and included a large rosary collection. St. Jude was her favorite Saint and she believed he had helped her through difficult times. Patsy was a member of St. Bernard’s parish and Belfield Chamber of Commerce.

Patsy worked outside the home at Pete’s Café, South Side Mercantile and the Medora Gift Shop. She also enjoyed serving as the local Avon lady for many years. When Belfield lost their inter-city bus service, Patsy and other lady friends successfully worked to get service restored. This effort consisted of contacts with the Governor, North Dakota Senators and anyone else of influence who would listen to them. She also took on the job of poppy sales for Veterans Day and increased sales tenfold by enlisting the help of the Boy Scouts and strategically placing poppy donation containers at various business locations. Patsy participated in the placement of planter pots in downtown Main Street and dutifully watered her assigned planters. She was a member of the TOPS and enjoyed the many friends she met while attending weekly meetings and state conventions.

While living in Belfield, Patsy was an active member of the American Legion Auxiliary, where she cajoled organizations and others to decorate and enter floats in various parades. With her fun spirit, she would decorate her own SUV and participate. Patsy was an avid card player, coming at a fast pace when she heard someone say “Canasta, Racehorse Pinochle or GIN Rummy”! Medora and the T.R. Medora Foundation were also a favorite of hers. Everywhere she went she would talk about the wonderful musical and the activities in Medora. She was very proud to have been an early supporter and fan, remaining a member until her death.

Patsy is survived by her children, Kay Iverson, Pat Decker, Ken (Tina Flack) Decker, Rosanna (Roger) Smith, Sheila Decker; 13 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren; brother-in-law, Floyd Decker; sister-in-law, Ruth Decker; daughter-in-law, Sharon Decker; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Anton and Annie Hibl; husband, Adam; son, Kester Decker; brothers, Charlie, Albert, and Tony Hibl; sisters, Victoria Barta and Edith Kubik; grandson, Paine Schmitz; grandsons-in-law, John Flower and Brian Flack; son-in-law, Jerry Iverson.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggest memorials be made to Belfield American Legion or St. Bernard’s Catholic Daughters.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Patricia "Patsy" Decker, please visit our flower store.

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