SALINA — Delbert Earl Deckert, 85, passed away Sunday, Dec. 21, at his home in Salina. Delbert was born April 4, 1929, in Great Bend, the son of Ivan and Sylvia (Williams) Deckert. He graduated from Great Bend Senior High School in 1947, and served in the army with the 216th Chemical Corps Service in December 1950 as part of the Korean War.
After being honorably discharged in 1953, Delbert worked in an appliance store and was later a salesman for a Hutchison monument company in the Great Bend area.  
On June 1, 1958, he married Roberta E. Potter of Leavenworth County at the First Christian Church in Great Bend.
In 1973, Delbert and his wife purchased and operated Becker Monument Company in Salina for 40 years, selling the business in December 2012 to Bell Memorials. He learned to do monuments in the beginning by hand and sand blasting, then using stencil cutters and finally computers. He was a true artist capable of doing custom work on stones as displayed in many cemeteries throughout Kansas. He was a member of the Monument Builders of North America and the Mid-America Monument Builders Association.
Delbert was an active member of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Great Bend as well as Salina. He enjoyed traveling on tours in the United States and Canada with his family and friends, attending Salina Community Theatre productions, and staying active through the Cardiac Rehab at Salina Regional Health Center.
Delbert was preceded in death by his parents; one son, Steven Eric in 1969; and his wife on Dec. 24, 2008.
Survivors include David Earl and Liz Deckert of Leawood, James Eugene and Laurie Deckert of Salina, Nancy Ellen and Brian Bergdall of Olathe, and Laura Elaine and Larry Whipple of Lenexa; nine grandchildren, Katherine and Elizabeth Deckert, Abigail, Naomi, Elijah, and Isaiah Deckert, Kylie and Charlie Bergdall, and Alexander Whipple; three sisters, Delores Westfall of Great Bend, Dorothy Bryan of Liberal, and Patty Archer of McPherson; and one brother, Gary and Yvonne Deckert of Lucas, Texas.
A Celebration of Life ceremony will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 3, at the First Christian Church, 2727 E. Crawford, in Salina. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials go to First Christian Church of Salina or Salina Regional Health Center Cardiac Rehab in care of Salina Regional Health Foundation.

Great Bend (Kan) Tribune, Dec. 30, 2014**