Jerome Bechtold

1927 - 2013

Jerome F. Bechtold, 86

Rockville

May 3, 1927 - May 16, 2013

Mass of Christian Burial will be 11 a.m. Tuesday, May 21, 2013 at Mary of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Rockville, MN for Jerome F. Bechtold age 86 who died Thursday. Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. Monday in the church. Parish prayers will be at 8 p.m. Visitation will continue Tuesday from 9:30 - 10:45 a.m. Arrangements are with the Wenner Funeral Home in Cold Spring.

Jerome was born May 3, 1927, in Waite Park, Minnesota, to Albert J. Bechtold and Clara (Weyer) Bechtold. He married LeMay Wagner on August 18, 1948, in Queen of Angels Catholic Church in Nashua, Montana.

Jerry farmed near Rockville and was active in conservation work and local politics his whole life. He was on the Stearns County Soil and Water Conservation District since 1957 and served as the board chairperson for 20 years, was a member of the Rockville Township planning commission, was active in the National Catholic Rural Life Conference, and with LeMay, co-chaired the St. Cloud Diocesan Rural Life Committee. He was a member of Mary of the Immaculate Conception parish in Rockville. He served in the U.S. Army from 1945 to 1948 in the Pacific during World War II.

Survivors include his wife of 65 years, LeMay of Rockville, and his children, Karen (Bernie) Koltes of Albany, Brigid of Plymouth, Barbara (John Tomaro) of Juneau, Alaska, Stephen (Helen) of Blackduck, Mary Ruth of Fort Peck, Montana, Gregory, Mark, and Roger of Rockville, Joyce of Ellicott City, Maryland, and Timothy (Karen Knudsen) of Missoula, Montana; brothers, Philip (Marie) of Covina, California, Cletus (Monica) of St. Joseph, and Alphonse (Betty) of Sauk Rapids, and brothers-in law, Leander Meyer of St. Joseph, J.F. (Arlys) Wagner, and Phil Boerschinger of Billings, Montana, Roger (Laura) Wagner of Nashua, Montana, and David (Dixie) Wagner of Towner, North Dakota. He is also survived by 19 grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren, his aunt, Sally Weyer of Sartell, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his son, Michael, in 1973; his sisters, Dolores Meyer and Rosemary Warnert; his brothers-in-law, Robert Warnert, Hugh Wagner, Phillip Wagner, Richard Wagner; his sisters-in-law, Mary Margarette Hanson, Therese Anne Wagner, and Damaris Boerschinger, and his great-grandson, Waylon Beard.

Memorials are preferred to the Post-Polio Support Group or a conservation initiative of your choice.