Search by Name

Search by Name

Thomas J. Bechtold

1947 - 2025

Thomas J. Bechtold obituary, 1947-2025, Forest Lake, MN

BORN

1947

DIED

2025

FUNERAL HOME

Mattson Funeral Home & Cremation Service

343 North Shore Drive

Forest Lake, Minnesota

UPCOMING SERVICE

Visitation

Aug. 1, 2025

10:00 a.m.

Church of Saint Peter

Send Flowers

Thomas Bechtold Obituary

Thomas Bechtold, age 77, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family, on Friday, July 18th of 2025.

Tom and his wife Terri raised their three daughters at their home in Forest Lake. He and Terri enjoyed many years of volunteering at St. Peter's Church, traveling, camping with friends and enjoying life together. They had 40 happy years of marriage until her passing in 2009.

In 2011, Tom married Judy Loehrer. Tom and Judy enjoyed 14 years of marriage. They especially enjoyed time spent with their families and friends at the cabin.

Tom worked for Unisys for 50 years in the computer programming field. Being raised on the farm, in Sauk Rapids, he loved to come home from work and tend to his garden and work in his shop. He loved going to threshing shows, watching MN sports teams, fishing year-round, camping with friends, and spending time with all the grandchildren they shared together.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife Judy; children Susan (Neal) Westphal, Michelle (Craig) Peterson, Julia VanWagner, Michael (Jeannie) Loehrer, Christopher (Liz) Loehrer; eight grandchildren Candyce and Brian VanWagner, Simon Peterson, Allison and Bryce Westphal, Addison, Ashley, and Brooklyn Loehrer; his sisters Sue (Mark) Senn, Barb (Dick) Weber, and Mary (Lonnie) Besser; and many nieces, nephews and close friends.

He was preceded in death by Terri Bechtold, and his parents.

Visitation will be held from 4:00-7:00 p.m., with a time of sharing at 7:00 p.m., Thursday, July 31, 2025 at Mattson Funeral Home, 343 North Shore Drive, Forest Lake. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m., with a visitation one hour prior to the mass on Friday, August 1, 2025 at the Church of Saint Peter, 1250 South Shore Drive, Forest Lake, Minnesota. Interment at Calvary Cemetery, Forest Lake, Minnesota

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate memorials to Second Harvest Heartland Food Shelf (2harvest.org) or St. Peter's Parish, Forest Lake.

The family is grateful for your prayers throughout this journey.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Forest Lake Times on Jul. 21, 2025.

Memorial Events
for Thomas Bechtold

Jul

31

Visitation

4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Mattson Funeral Home

343 North Shore Drive, Forest Lake, MN 55025

Aug

1

Visitation

10:00 a.m.

Church of Saint Peter

1250 South Shore Drive, Forest Lake, MN 55025

Aug

1

Service

11:00 a.m.

Church of Saint Peter

1250 South Shore Drive, Forest Lake, MN 55025

Funeral services provided by:

Mattson Funeral Home & Cremation Service

343 North Shore Drive, Forest Lake, MN 55025

Memories and Condolences
for Thomas Bechtold

Sponsored by Mattson Funeral Home & Cremation Service.

Not sure what to say?





0 Entries

Be the first to post a memory or condolences.

Make a Donation
in Thomas Bechtold's name

How to support Thomas's loved ones
Honor a beloved veteran with a special tribute of ‘Taps’ at the National WWI Memorial in Washington, D.C.

The nightly ceremony in Washington, D.C. will be dedicated in honor of your loved one on the day of your choosing.

Read more
Attending a Funeral: What to Know

You have funeral questions, we have answers.

Read more
Should I Send Sympathy Flowers?

What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?

Read more
What Should I Write in a Sympathy Card?

We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.

Read more
Resources to help you cope with loss
Estate Settlement Guide

If you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.

Read more
How to Write an Obituary

Need help writing an obituary? Here's a step-by-step guide...

Read more
Obituaries, grief & privacy: Legacy’s news editor on NPR podcast

Legacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.

Read more
The Five Stages of Grief

They're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel.

Read more
Ways to honor Thomas Bechtold's life and legacy
Obituary Examples

You may find these well-written obituary examples helpful as you write about your own family.

Read more
How to Write an Obituary

Need help writing an obituary? Here's a step-by-step guide...

Read more
Obituary Templates – Customizable Examples and Samples

These free blank templates make writing an obituary faster and easier.

Read more
How Do I Write a Eulogy?

Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love.

Read more