Neil W. Decker

Neil Westover Decker was born December 29, 1938, in Ogden, Utah. 

He was raised in Warren, Utah, in humble conditions with his parents, Joseph and Golda Decker, and four siblings: one sister and 3 brothers. He told stories about their little house with a path to the outhouse, no indoor plumbing, one bed for all the boys to share, and their weekly baths in the wash basin. As bleak as it sounds, his stories about his childhood were full of loving reminiscence. He learned hard work and tenacity. He was creative and full of ingenuity from a young age! He didn’t like school but found ways to charm teachers with witty poems. He joined the band to be around the cute girls, but found that wasn’t for him, so he “accidentally on purpose” left his trumpet behind the school bus tire.

He trapped and sold muskrat pelts so he’d always have some money in his pocket.

Football was the first love of his life. He was noticed by the Weber State coach at his high school’s “Little Brown Jug” game, where he used his size to his advantage! He dove right under his opponent's legs and stopped the ball carrier in his tracks, winning the game! This paved the way for him to go to college!

Between football and hitching freight trains, he developed a love for the gospel of Jesus Christ and had the desire to share it with others.

He served a mission to the Northwestern States for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served with his upbeat personality and inspired others to serve.

This mission took him to Eagle, Idaho, where he became acquainted with the Walker family.

He made a decision that he’d come back to marry one of those Walker girls!

He’s a man of his word! He returned to Eagle and was set up with the one and only, Sharon Walker.

Their sweet courtship led to a long life of love! He proposed to Sharon in his VW bug, and they were sealed in the Idaho Falls Temple on April 16, 1964.

Neil’s schooling took them to Weber State and BYU. He received his master's degree in Recreation Education! Through this, he developed a love for BYU football that was evident in his wardrobe!

Neil received his first job to teach at the Seminary in Duchesne, Utah. After several years, he got the call to come back to where it all began, Eagle, Idaho. He was one of the first seminary teachers in that area.

Neil and Sharon raised their six children in Eagle. With Neil’s zeal for life and his gift to create fun, he made their home into a place where everyone wanted to gather! He was unconventional with a vision! He creatively jacked the house up to add a basement. He resourcefully gathered supplies to make additions. He loved their property where he could have a huge garden and a pasture full of sheep! He joked that he loved talking to the sheep because they didn’t talk back.

Croquet, the pulley swing, elastic rope, the indoor slide, Annie-I-Over, frisbee golf, the treehouse, and endless homemade games are just a few of the highlights from Neil! He put his heart into everything he made and found joy in sharing these activities!

Neil was good at memory making! Lagoon, camping reunions, dam trips, compass course on Christmas morning, slideshows on the living room wall, documenting classic moments with his video camera, teaching grandkids to drive his bug.

He always took time for his family.

He’d stop and drop everything for them. He showed up.

He was born to teach! He had a career as a seminary teacher for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for 32 years! He often said, “I’ll quit when this becomes work”. He loved people, and people loved him! He connected with those he taught, and his love for the gospel was contagious! He showed everyone how to have joy in following Jesus Christ and living good values. He was the king of object lessons! He wrote and sold several volumes of his book, “What’s the Object”.

He had the mind and eye to see an object and immediately know how he could use it to teach a valuable lesson.

His garage and home are filled with object lessons from his journey through life. He taught everyone how to see Jesus Christ in daily living.

His children remember him sitting at the kitchen table with his scriptures and note cards, planning lessons, firesides, family home evening, The Easter Presentation, and slideshows.

He was a master teacher. More importantly, he lived what he taught.

His speaking assignments took him to various places, inspiring all who came. He spent years teaching at the Idaho State Prison. He loved seeing hearts soften as people from all walks of life felt the power of Jesus Christ.

He was an inventor! He dreamed up ideas, purchased patents, had an investor for his behavior modification watch, and even went to Epcot for an invention convention!

When he was 50, he was diagnosed with diabetes. It ignited a determination in him to get on a healthier course. He did not want this disease to take over his life. He committed to eating healthy and exercising. He often said, “Eat to live, don’t live to eat”. He managed his diabetes without insulin for many years because of this motto.

He always had a beautiful garden full of all the best vegetables! His favorite were tomatoes. Each year, he planned to scale back, but when planting season came, he couldn’t help himself! He’d get so excited and plant 100 tomato plants! He wanted to have plenty to share, and he did! He and Sharon stood side by side canning fruits, vegetables, and grape juice from his amazing vines every year. Neil’s family and friends benefited greatly from their efforts!

It is fitting that the last thing he ate in this life were fresh garden tomatoes!

He learned how to ride a unicycle after his diabetes diagnosis and consistently rode several miles a day for over 20 years. As he rode, he would recite poems, scriptures, and ponder object lessons. Everyone in town recognized the unicycle man with a buzz cut! He was an inspiration! His sons, many grandchildren, and students can ride the unicycle because of him!

He kept his mind sharp and body healthy with food, exercise, and his “don’t leave home without your cayenne pepper” rule! He was dedicated to living a full life with his family.

He was committed to his wife and children and did all he could to take care of them. Sharon had a stroke when she was 53 that left her limited. Neil took on her daily tasks without complaint! He cared for Sharon and was by her side till she passed on July 9, 2025.

Their life was full! Neil and Sharon traveled many places together. A highlight was their trip to The Holy Land, walking where Jesus walked.

After Neil retired in 1999, he and Sharon served a mission to Micronesia and Guam. They lived on the primitive island of Yap for 21 months. Neil taught seminary to the kids on the island. He loved discovering object lessons from Yap that were familiar to the local people. He taught and unicycled his way into their hearts, smiling and laughing along the way!

Neil and Sharon have endless motorhome stories! They loved to hit the open road and visit their children, attend George Straight concerts, Graceland, National Parks, and more! At Christmas, the family piled into the big rig to go see Christmas lights with Neil in his Santa suit and Elvis on the stereo! Neil used his motor home for entertainment as well as service. Service was at the heart of everything he did. He and Sharon lived in the motor home for 6 months while serving a mission in Palmyra, New York. They loved serving in the temple and visiting sacred church history sites daily.

The last few years of his life, as his health declined, Neil and Sharon were able to live with their daughter in Utah. He enjoyed the open property that was similar to his life in Eagle. As long as he was able, he took walks on the lane, helped in the garden, and loved gathering wood and stoking the fire, as he had always done for his family. Best of all, he brought his love and laughter!

He loved watching John Wayne movies, old Johnny Cash concerts, and anything about Elvis!

Sharon’s death left Neil heartbroken. So, only 11 weeks after her passing, Neil joined her. What a love story!

Neil was a natural optimist. Even when the nurse came to admit him to hospice due to severe pain, just a few days before he died, he told her, “I’ve never been better!”

He had a witty phrase or poem for all life’s circumstances! Things like “What’s time to a hog” and “Always remember, the main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.”

He had a way of keeping an eternal perspective and simplifying life. He kept his eye single to God. This and his family were the center of his world.

He loved his life, he loved his family, and he loved the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Wow, what a life!

Neil is survived by his children: Shanell (Eric) Wallentine, Wendy (Ken) Collins, Ben (Terri) Decker, Lisa (Eric) Peterson, Aaron (the late Carin) Decker, Amy (Wildee) Mortensen; 30 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren.

He is survived by his siblings.

Dorral Decker, Coral Johnson, Golden (Sharon) Decker, Reed Decker.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Sharon Decker. parents, Golda and Joseph Decker, siblings, William Decker, Leon Decker, and daughter-in-law, Carin Decker.

Funeral services will be held at 12:00 Noon on October 27, 2025, at Wild Acres - 1239 South 300 East, Ephraim, Utah.

Viewing will be at Wild Acres on October 27, 2025, from 10:00 to 11:30 am

Burial will be in the Ephraim Park Cemetery 

To watch the funeral services live, click here. The live Zoom link will activate at 11:45 am.

https://fullcoll-edu.zoom.us/j/81744598325

Funeral Directors Magleby Mortuary, Richfield, Salina, and Manti