Nancy Lou Decker, 94

Nancy Lou (Hopp) Decker passed away June 22, 2023, at the age of 94, in Lewiston, Idaho, with family by her side. Nancy died due to an Alzheimer’s related fall resulting in a broken hip. Nancy was born into a Washington state pioneer family February 5, 1929, to Arthur G. and Irene (MacDonald) Hopp in Okanogan, Wash. This was after a 25-mile ride on a frozen, bumpy road from Bridgeport where her parents and grandparents lived. She was a beautiful, red-haired little girl and the first of four children born to the Hopp family.

Nancy’s life was characterized by her strong Christian faith, her ability to adapt, her strong moral character, and her sunny optimism about life and the people in it. One of Nancy’s greatest legacies to her children was her exemplary character. When it came to her Christian faith, she followed Christ’s teachings in full. She walked the talk living a life of kindness, compassion and civility to others.

Her greatest legacy, however, was her role as a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She was always encouraging, engaged and interested in their lives. Every holiday was celebrated with her special touch, whether it was Valentine's chocolates under the cereal bowl in the morning, baking cookies for Christmas, or decorating eggs at Easter. She never missed a birthday and took great care in choosing cards and gifts for her loved ones. There was often a rousing card or board game, especially with her grandchildren.

At the beginning of WWII when mom was 12, the family-owned general store in Bridgeport burned to the ground. So, the Hopps moved to Lake City, Wash., near Seattle where her father began working at Todd Shipyards and later Boeing, while her mother continued serving as a registered nurse. At age 13, a friend invited Nancy to attend Sunday service at the Lake City Presbyterian Church and from that point on, Nancy and her family became lifelong dedicated and active members of the Presbyterian church.

After meeting Alverado Norman Decker (a WWII Navy veteran) at Whitworth College in Spokane, they married Dec. 27, 1949, in Seattle, Wash. Soon after that, dad graduated from Whitworth, was activated for the Korean War, and was assigned to a base near Chicago, Ill., taking mom with him. After dad’s honorable discharge in 1952, mom, dad and baby Sheri, moved to Southeast Alaska, where the family lived for the next 13 years. During that wonderful adventure-filled time in mom’s life, she spent much of her time as a homemaker, raising her three children, substitute teaching, and being involved in community activities. While in Alaska, mom and our family lived in the towns of Douglas, Hoonah and Sitka.

One of her biggest adventures was the seven years of living in Hoonah, an isolated Tlingit Indian fishing village on Chichagof Island. In and around Hoonah, there were no doctors, nurses, dentists, or cars, but there were lots of bears, deer, salmon, halibut and clams, much of which appeared on our dinner plates. One of the many Hoonah adventures was the float plane ride to Juneau for the birth of Paul in 1959.

In 1965, our family moved to Cheney, Wash., for a year and then in 1966, settled in Coeur d’Alene. In Coeur d'Alene, dad worked hard at his new teaching position and mom went back to work completing her teaching degree, while substitute teaching and making sure we all were in regular attendance at school and at the First Presbyterian Church services and activities. Out of necessity, she learned to drive at age 36. When she finally completed her teaching degree, she decided she should learn to drive a manual transmission, so she picked John to teach her in his four-on-the-floor hot rod VW Bug. That didn’t work out too well. Soon after that, she secured a teaching position and taught grades K-3 for the next 18 years in Hayden, Rose Lake and Harrison, Idaho.

In 1975, mom, dad, and Paul embarked on a new adventure, buying and moving to part of an old homestead on the east side of Lake Coeur d’Alene. There, mom and dad pursued a self-sufficient lifestyle which included organic gardening, animal husbandry and horticulture. Following Al’s death in 1992, Mom returned to Coeur d’Alene where she again became active in the First Presbyterian Church holding many church positions and participating in the Presbyterian Women’s Association.

Mom had a retirement enriched by her children, their spouses, grandchildren and friends, her passion for giving aid to others, and her love of learning. As a lifelong learner, Nancy focused on travel and study. She enjoyed trips with family and Rambling Rovers, took courses in master gardening, art, music, religion and history, and was always interested in self-improvement, particularly diet and exercise.

In 2021, after 55 years in the Coeur d’Alene area, Nancy moved to Spokane, Wash., where she was closer to and lovingly cared for by family. During the last ten months, Nancy lived at Brookdale in Lewiston, Idaho, where she was surrounded by the love of her son, John, his wife, Bev, her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Nancy was preceded in death by her husband, Al; her parents and her three siblings: Ardis Ann (Hopp) Bakker, Thomas M. and Arthur G., Jr. (Ted) Hopp. Nancy is survived by her children: Sheri Decker (Lee Turbe) of Spokane; John Decker (Beverly Trautman Decker) of Lewiston; and Paul Decker (Debbie Rappuchi) of Spokane. She is also survived by her grandchildren; Jennifer Branson (Greg), Julie Barron (Benjamin), Jeffrey Decker, Nara Spade, Sarah Decker and Alexander Decker; her great-grandchildren and her sisters-in-law, Loretta Davis and Roberta Decker.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to Coeur d’Alene Public Library Foundation, 702 East Front Avenue, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho 83814 and/or the Museum of North Idaho, P.O. Box 812, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho 83816, two organizations which Mom spent countless hours donating her time.

The inurnment of mom’s ashes will be held July 5, 2023, 1 p.m. at Coeur d’Alene Memorial Gardens, 7315 N Government Way, Coeur d'Alene. A memorial service will follow at 2 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 521 E Lakeside Ave, Coeur d’Alene. Everyone is invited to both.

Please visit Nancy’s online memorial and sign her guestbook at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.