Albert David Decker
Albert David “Bert” Decker passed away suddenly on Sept. 7, 2018, following complications from surgery.
Born Jan. 25, 1932, in Mankato, Minn., to George and Ruth Decker, he was the eldest of five.
Bert played basketball for Sandpoint High School, where he graduated in 1951. He served in the U.S. Army 1953-1955, then the Army Reserves until 1963.
While working for St. Regis Lumber Company in Libby, Mont., he met Betty Ann Haines, the love of his life. They married Nov. 11, 1965, moving back to Sandpoint in 1966. He drove garbage truck locally until his retirement in 1997.
Bert was a gentle man who loved animals. In earlier years, he enjoyed hunting and fishing; later, dabbling in gold panning. Throughout his life, he’d been an avid sports fan, who often saw calls differently than the announcers and frequently told them so … as if they could hear him through the TV.
Bert is survived by his doting wife, Betty; daughter Jesse Lynn and son-in-law Patrick Reding of Portland, Ore.; his siblings, Daniel Decker and Iris Schmidt of Spokane; numerous nieces and nephews; and his best friend, Phil “Shorty” Bricker. He was preceded in death by his parents, George and Ruth; a brother, James and infant sister Lorraine.
Graveside services will be held Thursday Sept. 13, 2018 at 1 p.m. at Westmond Cemetery with a reception at 2 p.m. at the Sandpoint VFW Hall, Post 2453, 1325 Pine St., Sandpoint.
Family and friends are invited to sign Bert’s online guestbook at coffeltfuneral.com
Arrangments have been entrusted to Coffelt Funeral Service of Sandpoint.