A Buffalo native’s lifetime of teaching and service

Lucille Decker lived an extraordinary 102 years (April 15, 1923 – May 31, 2025), leaving behind a legacy defined by dedication, warmth, and a passion for teaching others. Her story and life serve as an example and inspiration for us all.  

Lucille Decker was born on April 15, 1923, to Frank and Carolyn Decker, of Buffalo. She grew up on a family farm on the north side of Buffalo Lake and graduated from Buffalo High School in 1941. Lucille came from a musical family. While at Buffalo High School, she played the trombone in the school band and also played at her church. 

Faith was an important part of Lucille’s life. As a member of Princeton Evangelical Free Church, Lucille’s faith served as a cornerstone and guiding light. She taught Sunday School and served as Sunday School Superintendent until 2020. 

The field of education is where Lucille Decker was a star. In 1944, Decker earned her two-year teaching degree from St. Cloud Teachers College (now St. Cloud State University). She would later earn her bachelor’s degree in education, along with two master’s Degrees. 

Decker began her teaching career in Elgin, Minnesota, a small farming community in Wabasha County. During that first year, Lucille missed home and hoped to teach closer to Buffalo. In 1945, she landed a teaching job in Princeton, continuing a career in education that would span 75 years.  

Much of Lucille’s teaching career was spent in Room 109, teaching first grade at South Elementary School in Princeton. In 1995, Lucille celebrated her 50th year in education, being honored by the Princeton Education Association as Teacher of the Year. With no plans to retire at that time, her career would continue another nine years, until 2004. 

After retirement, Decker continued to work as a substitute teacher until 2020, rounding out an astonishing 75-year career in education.  

Lucille enjoyed helping young children spread their wings and grow. Her passion for teaching is reflected in her words. Quoted in a 1995 article by the Princeton Union-Eagle, honoring her recognition as Teacher of the Year, Decker spoke on the reasons she so-cherished teaching first-graders, especially when it came to the subject of reading. 

“That’s where the action is. That’s where everything begins. It’s wonderful! It’s the first time they read a sentence. When they learn new things, their eyes just light up. Sometimes, they struggle really hard and then away they go.”

The highlights from Decker’s teaching career are many; honors, acknowledgments, accolades, and awards… including then Governor Tim Pawlenty, in 2004, proclaiming September 20th as Lucille Decker Day in the State of Minnesota after she was honored in a tribute to Minnesotans over age 65 who continue to work and contribute to the communities in which they live. 

Lucille Decker celebrated her 100th birthday in 2023. When she reached 102, this past April, staff at Elim Wellspring in Princeton, along with her family, threw Lucille a Sweet 16-themed party, a milestone Lucille said she never officially acknowledged when she was younger, but always wanted to experience. 

Lucille’s nephew, Gene Decker, shared that a future scholarship will be established in Lucille’s name at both Buffalo and Princeton schools to help students further their education. 

Although Lucille is no longer with us, her legacy endures in the educational foundation she laid for the lives of the many students that walked through her classroom doors.

Lucille’s life reminds us that true fulfillment arises from service, faith, and perseverance. May her memory continue to serve as an example for us all—to teach compassionately, lead courageously, and to love others, above all else.