Alvin Bechtold

Alvin Bechtold passed away on July 7, 2020 at the Kansas Veterans Home in Winfield KS, at the age of 98. Alvin was born on September 28, 1921 near Highmore in Hyde county SD to Gottlieb and Karoline (Karry) Buechler Bechtold. At a young age, his family moved to Memno, SD where he started school. In 1933, the family moved to Ellendale, ND where he finished grade school and three years of high school, later on he got his GED. In 1941, the family moved back to Highmore SD. While there, he did farm work, put up hay, and worked in the harvest fields. Alvin and a buddy also used to hitchhike to Washington state and worked in the apple orchards.
In 1942, he enlisted in the Navy where he was a GMG3 in World War II. He was honorable discharged December 1945. After his discharge from the Navy, he married Mabel Raigen in California. Alvin lived in California and several years in Saipan (North Mariana Islands) while working for the civil service repairing ships. While living in California he took flying lessons and became a ham radio operator.
After he retired in 1976, Alvin and Mable moved to El Dorado, KS where they purchased a small farm and he started a small orchard growing fruit trees. Mabel passed away in November 1998; he then sold the farm and purchased another where he also started growing fruit trees. He put the apples by the roadside with an honor box for payment. He married Euda Mosier in May 2001 and she passed away in 2013. After his health started to fail, he went to live in the Veterans home in Winfield, Kansas in February of 2020. Alvin is survived by his two sisters Ida Bertsch of Watertown, SD and Noretta Hixson (Dale) Ewing, NE. Nieces; Karen Hoffman, Brenda Towns, Judy Potter, and Teresa Venjohn. Nephews; Gary Fox, Tim Fox, Al Fox, Dennis Bechtold, Kenneth Bechtold, Willie Hixson, and Rick Hixson. Stepsons; Dennis Mosier and LaDoyt Mosier, many great nieces and nephews, as well as Aunt Alma Buechler of Pierre of SD who turned 108 on May 20, 2020.
Preceeding him in death are his wives Mabel and Euda, parents Gottlieb and Karry, brothers Wilbert and Ervin, Sister in law Ruth Harrell, brother in laws Clifford Fox and Eldin Bertsch, stepchildren Goldie Raigen Snyder and Edward Raigen.
Friends may gather with the family on Monday, July 13, 2020 at Carlson Funeral Home at 10:30 am where his funeral service will be held. Alvin will be laid to rest at Sunset Lawns Cemetery in El Dorado with full military honors. Memorial contributions in his name may be directed to the Haverhill Christian Church. Please sign his online guest book and leave a memory of Alvin at www.carlsoncolonial.com

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