Brent E. Deckert, 54, Brandon, passed away on Wednesday, March 13, 2024, at the Sanford USD
Medical Center, eleven days after he officially retired from teaching. If we have to say he lost his
battle with cancer after almost 4 years, then we must say it was a triple overtime game with
bench-clearing brawls and several technical fouls. He fought until his very last breath, or until
the final horn sounded. We are forever inspired by his resilience, his tenacity, and his refusal to
give up. We have witnessed first-hand how The Game Honors Toughness.
Our hearts are broken, but we know his spirit and his legacy will live on.
Visitation for Mr. Deckert will be 10am to Noon, on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at Heartland
Funeral Home. Funeral Services will begin at 2pm, Sunday, March 17, 2024, at the Brandon
Valley High School Gym, with viewing beginning at 1pm. A private burial will happen at a later
time. In lieu of flowers, the family encourages you to donate to the Brent Deckert Memorial
at US Bank. The donations will be used to fund the Brent Deckert Scholarship for
basketball players. A go-fund-me https://gofundme/d4783f61 has also been established for
the convenience of the Brent Deckert Scholarship for basketball players.
Brent Deckert was born March 2, 1969 in Wadena, MN. He grew up in Henning, MN with his
sister Stacy and his brother Brian.  His parents, Herman and Arlene Deckert, owned a grocery
store for 36 years. As a way to avoid working in the store, Brent would sneak off to the gym to
shoot hoops with his buddies. He always knew he wanted to be a basketball coach when he grew
up. He went on to graduate from Henning High School in 1987 and then Moorhead State
University in 1992 with a degree in education along with a coaching minor. 
Brent began teaching in Sioux Falls in 1993 and his first stints as a coach were at Sioux Falls
Washington and then Augustana College before ending up at Brandon Valley in 2000.  His love
for coaching the Lynx was evident to anyone who chatted with him. His passion for the game
was year-round, there was never an off-season, and the gym was always open. Springs and
summers included camps, workouts, tournaments, team trips, and piles and piles of Lynx t-shirts.
It was rare to see Brent wearing something that didn’t say Lynx Basketball.
Brent and Jill met at a summer basketball camp in Yankton, SD where they coached opposing
high school teams. It was competition at first sight. They were married in 1996 and they had 3
children: Caden, Jaksen, and Kennedi. Countless hours were spent in the gym as the kids grew
up and they all shared his love of basketball. It was very special for him to coach Caden and
Jaksen through their varsity careers and he did his very best to ‘sideline’ coach Kennedi through
her final season. Without a doubt, it could be argued the highlight of his coaching career was
winning the state championship in 2019. But Brent always said the best part for him as a coach
was the time he spent with the kids. He loved the practices, film sessions, and giving away
Subway cards for half-court makes. Sure, winning was important (family game night never
ended well at the Deckert house) but he was less concerned about the wins and losses and always more focused on the relationship he had with his players. Brent coached the Lynx for 21 years
before retiring in 2021, one year after his cancer diagnosis.
Brent spent countless hours watching game films and discussing basketball with his in-laws, Ron
and Gloria Riherd. In many ways, they became parents to him and we are eternally grateful for
their love and support. Brent also shared his life with his sister-in-law, Jody Riherd, and her
husband, Dennis Corcoran, along with their children, Elliott and Reece, of La Crosse, WI.
He is preceded in death by his mother Arlene Deckert. Much of his family lives in Fargo
including his dad, Herman; and his sister, Stacy, along with her husband, Mat; and their children,
Taylor, Jonas, and Kasen. His brother Brian, also lives in Fargo with his children Derek, Davina,
Jess, Blaise, and Kurt.