Clear, 40° F
(April 27, 1923 – Aug. 2, 2014)
Ardath Loretta (Mueller) Decker died on Saturday, Aug. 2, 2014, after a brief stay in the hospital with family by her side. She was 91.
Ardath was born in Hollenberg, Kan., on April 27, 1923, to John Henry and Olive Palmererly (Rathbun) Mueller. She was the fourth of five children. She attended grade and high school in Hollenberg, Kan.
Ardath married Lyle John Decker on Jan. 8, 1941, in Marysville, Kan., and they celebrated 55 years of marriage.
They started their married life farming on the Decker family farm and farmed with a team of horses, washed clothes on a washboard, slept on feather tick beds, cooked on a heating oil stove and raised a garden and livestock. Ardath was a farm wife and enjoyed working alongside her husband.
In 1946, Lyle and Ardath loaded their belongings on a freight train bound for Powell and started out with their girls to Wyoming.
They started living and working in the Powell Flat and in 1955 moved to Heart Mountain, where they purchased a farm in 1958. They farmed for 36 years until their retirement.
Three daughters were born to their union: Scarlet Ann, Janet Louise and Lyla Jean.
Ardath took great pleasure and loved her family, gardening and tending to her flowers. Over the years, Ardath enjoyed playing bridge, crocheting, making ceramics and watching the crops grow.
Ardath was preceded in death by her husband, Lyle John, son-in-law William Bodle, grandson Corey Lee Bodle and great-grandson Garrett Younger.
Ardath is survived by daughters: Scarlet Ann Bodle of Rio Vista, Calif., Janet Louise (Jim) Carpenter of Powell and Lyla Jean (Marshall) Carnley of Brandon, Miss., and sister-in-law Marjorie Decker of Powell.
Ardath is also survived by 12 grandchildren: Carla (Tom) Thompson, Billie Jo (Ruben) Garcia, Arlene Wolters, April Wilson, Lyle (Kimberly) Bodle, Randy (Tracie) Bodle, John (Amy) Carpenter, Crystal (Brad) May, Lisa (Gary) Hornberger, Treena (Bubba) Jones, Meredith (Jesse) Harris, Steven (Casandra) Carnley; 38 great-grandchildren and 10 great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 7, at the Union Presbyterian Church.
Viewing will be from 6-7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Thompson Funeral Home.
Burial will be in the Crown Hill Cemetery.
