Decker, Arlan (1942-1954)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1954 Sep 9 p. 1

Birth date: 1942 Jul 21

text of obituary:

Parents And Son Die When Farmhouse Burns

TRAGEDY IN SOUTH DAKOTA COMMUNITY CLAIMS THREE LIVES

Freeman, S. D. — Word was received here of a tragic fire which claimed the lives of Mr. and Mrs. David P. Decker and their 12-year old son, who perished when their farmhouse burned to the ground

Funeral services were held Sept. 1 at the Hutterthal church near Carpenter, and were widely attended.

According to the reports received here, Mr. Decker and a neighbor had returned from town about 11:00 p.m. The Decker's son Delbert returned home later and found the house a mass of flames. The Huron and Hitchcock fire departments were called, but it was too late. The bodies of the parents and son were found side by side in the basement.

Mr. and Mrs. Decker were both natives of Freeman and moved to Beadle about 35 years ago. He is survived by three brothers, two sisters and one step-brother, and Mrs. Decker leaves four brothers and three sisters. She was a daughter of the late Jake I. Tschetter.

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