Marion Deckert

Marion was born on the 14th of August 1934 in Richey, Montana, to Annie and Alvin Deckert. Marion is not a typical name for a boy, and while growing up on the farm in eastern Montana with his sister Alison (Hiebert) and brother Kenneth, he was known as Bud. Marion graduated from Bethel College, where he met his wife Lois Duerksen, and eventually went on to earn a PhD in Philosophy at the University of Chicago. Marion’s first philosophy teaching position was at the University of Southern Colorado in Pueblo. After receiving tenure, he took a position as academic dean at Bethel College and spent the rest of his professional life at Bethel College in different positions. Marion died on the 6th of June 2025. He had a long, fulfilling life with many highlights, and we will always cherish these memories.

Marion and Lois served 3 years with the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC), first in Morocco, where Marion helped the villagers in the hills repair their cisterns after a major earthquake. It was in Morocco where they had their first child, Alan, before traveling to Halmahera, Indonesia to work with an island MCC unit there. During their time in Halmahera they had their second child, Alice, and after two years in Indonesia they came back to the USA, where Marion finished his degree in philosophy at the University of Chicago. In 1979 Marion, Lois and Alice went to Salatiga, Indonesia, where Marion took on a teaching post at Satya Wacana University. Unfortunately, Lois was diagnosed with cancer, and they returned to the USA for treatment. Marion took back his position at Bethel College as dean and started studying for a degree in computer science on the side. During his sabbatical he finished his master’s degree at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio. He then taught philosophy and computer science at Bethel College. During a subsequent sabbatical, Marion and Lois went to Mussoorie, India, which lies in the foothills of the Himalayan mountains. This gave Lois a chance to come back to the country she grew up in and Marion the opportunity to see where his wife spent her childhood. Lois had gone to school at Woodstock, an English boarding school in Mussoorie. During their stay in India, Lois taught writing and journalism at Woodstock and Marion set up a computer lab for the school. He spent much of his free time hiking in the Himalayan mountains, a pastime he loved and had also enjoyed while teaching in Colorado. Getting rid of his hiking boots when downsizing later in life was one of the harder things for him to do.

When Marion and Lois moved to North Newton in 1972, they built a house on three lots so that Marion could have a very large garden and orchard. Marion was an avid gardener, and during his last year in health care he very much missed going to his garden, where the 50-year-old pecan trees he had planted had reached majestic heights. Besides gardening, Marion had also taken up biking and went on numerous bike trips, including trips to Europe where his son Alan was living. Marion retired in North Newton and kept close contact with Bethel College, where he took on several short term assignments, for example as philosophy professor for a semester. When Lois was no longer able to manage the stairs in the house, they moved to an independent living apartment at Kidron-Bethel. During Marion’s last year and a half, he was in health care but was still able to keep up with what was going on in the world. It was always inspiring to discuss topics from politics to science, gardening, nature and philosophy with him. We will always fondly remember all those long talks, hiking in the mountains, riding bike, and working in his garden.

He is survived by his two children, Alan (Ulla) Deckert and Alice Deckert (Michael McGrath), grandchildren Caitlin McGrath (Adam Skalanakis) and Megan McGrath, sister Alison (Harvey) Hiebert, and nieces Jennifer Hiebert (Lauren Good) and Greta Hiebert (Nathan Smucker). A memorial service is planned for August 16. Details to be announced later. He was preceded in death by his wife Lois, parents Alvin and Annie Deckert and brother Kenneth Deckert.

Memorial donations can be directed to Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) or the Bethel College.