Betty Bechtold

Betty Lou Bechtold died from natural causes on February 20, 2023, at the age of 90, surrounded by family and friends. Betty was born in Pawnee City, Nebraska to Anton (“Andy”) and Wilhelmina (“Minnie”) Daniel. After graduating from high school at the age of sixteen, Betty moved to Omaha, Nebraska to attend secretarial school. It was there that she met Joseph Bechtold, who was in the Strategic Air Command Air Police at Offutt Air Force Base in Omaha. They ultimately married in 1954. The newlyweds subsequently moved to Oklahoma, so that Joe could attend Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, while Betty worked to put him through school. After obtaining his degree in Civil Engineering, Joe began working for Chevron, and he and Betty moved to various locations such as Casper, Wyoming, Minot, North Dakota, and Denver, Colorado. Their oldest daughter, Joan, was born in Wyoming, and their daughter Mary Beth was born in Denver. From Denver, the Bechtolds moved to Rangely, Colorado were they actually lived in the middle of an oil field. They later lived in El Paso, Texas and  Denver, Colorado, before being transferred to New Orleans, Louisiana after their daughters had left home. Throughout this entire time period, Betty successfully confronted the challenges of creating a new home and a community for her family. She and Joe created beautiful and smoothly running homes everywhere they went, with a keen eye towards resale value in anticipation of their next move. Betty also enjoyed needlework, playing bridge, dancing and gambling. After Joe retired, the Bechtolds moved back to Denver to be near their daughters. They became avid Colorado Rockies fans, during the time when people still believed the team could win a pennant. Joe was ultimately diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease, and Betty and their daughters cared for him until his death in 2016. Betty continued to live in the family home, under the care of her daughters and her family friend, until her death. Betty is survived by her daughter Joan, her daughter Mary having predeceased her in 2022.