Betty Bechtel

Betty R. Bechtel, 92, of Waukon, IA, died Tuesday, March 18, 2025, at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. Funeral services will be held Friday, March 21st, at 11:00 AM at Zion United Church of Christ in Waukon with Rev. Cathy Jurgens officiating. Burial will be at Oakland Cemetery, Waukon. Friends may greet the family from 9:30 AM until the time of services on Friday at the church. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is handling arrangements.The service will also be livestreamed on the funeral home's facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/martinfunerals

Betty Rose Bechtel was born on July 11, 1932, in Waterville, IA, the daughter of Ingvold and Isabelle (Hanson) Christianson. Isabelle passed away when Betty was young and Ingvold remarried to Mabel (Peterson) Christianson. She graduated from Waterville High School, where she enjoyed playing basketball. While at a dance at Rainbow Gardens in Waterville, Betty met the love of her life Calvin Bechtel. The two were married on September 30, 1951, at Old East Paint Creek Church in rural Waterville.

Betty was a hard-working homemaker and also helped on the family farm. She had a knack for music and enjoyed playing hymns on the piano, embroidering, doing crossword puzzles, and playing solitaire. More than anything, she loved spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren; she was especially involved in caring for her granddaughter Heather Peck. Betty had a heart of gold and touched the lives of everyone who knew her.

Survivors include her two children: Robert (Cindy) Bechtel of Decorah, IA, and Corene Peck of Waukon, IA; ten grandchildren: Thea (Brian) Rentschler, Danny (Nicole) Willis, Jennifer (Jeremy) Cuff, Kim (Nick) Engrav, Mike (Andrea) Peck, Ryan (Trish) Peck, Shawn Peck, Angela McConnell, Tiffany (Heather) Loomis, and Zack Loomis; and 27 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband Calvin in 1995; her parents and step-mother Mabel; a brother Carlton Christianson; and two granddaughters: Heather and Nicole Peck.

Casketbearers are Zach Loomis, Mike, Ryan, and Shawn Peck, and Bentley and Dan Willis.