Lydia Bechtold , 98, Minot, died Monday, March 12, 2007 in a Minot Healthcare Center.

Lydia was born November 10, 1908 in Maryland Township of Ward County, 5 miles north of Surrey, ND, the daughter of Lawrence and Millie (Soper) Wallace. She was raised and educated at Surrey.
Lydia was united in marriage to Theodore "Ted" Bechtold on July 6, 1928, at the grandstand of the ND State Fair in Minot.

They made their home on the Bechtold family homestead, located near Sawyer, prior to moving to Minot in 1936. Together, they owned and operated City Laundry from 1960-62 and also the Graystone Apartment Complex from 1945 until moving to Shelton, Washington in 1965. They returned to Minot in 1968, where she worked and retired from Trinity Nursing Home. Following Ted's death in 1985, Lydia continued to make her home in Minot.

Lydia was a homemaker who enjoyed sewing, craft projects, gardening, and loved flowers of all kinds. She was active in church, loved gospel music, and spending time with her entire family. She will be deeply missed by those who shared in her life.

Her loving family includes : Daughter: Rosella Wilkerson, Minot; Ten Grandchildren; Twenty-one Great Grandchildren; Ten Great Great Grandchildren; Brother: Floyd (Lucille) Wallace, Minot and Sister: Mary (Ernie) Rutherford, California; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Lydia was preceded in death by her parents, husband, daughters, Gladys Bechtold, Gwenneth Becker, and Verna Rittgers, sons, Lawrence "Bud" and Floyd "Bill" Bechtold, and brothers, Lavern "Speed," Clarence, Clifford, and Milo Wallace.

Funeral service : Friday, March 16, 2007, at 1:30 p.m. at the River of Life Assembly of God, Minot.
Interment : Rosehill Memorial Park, Minot.