Carl W. Bechtold, 100, of the Arbor at Eben Ezer Lutheran Care Center in Brush, Colorado, went to be with his Lord on March 31, 2017. He was born Carl William Hedrick, October 14, 1916, in Detroit, Michigan to Beaufort Hedrick and Cora Ann Hoadley Hedrick. After his mother died, he was adopted by William F. and Charlotte Jane Bechtold of Amarillo, Texas. Growing up in Amarillo, TX he worked on the family farm during the depression and graduated from Amarillo High School.

Carl was the first student at Texas Technological College to graduate from the industrial engineering department. This launched his lifetime career of industrial, mechanical and civil engineering. It was at "Tech," in 1935, that he met Virginia Lee Simmons, his wife of seventy-four years. Their family grew to five children. He started in the teaching field at the University of Alabama. He then worked for the USDA, the All American Canal System, Lubbock Steel Works, Container Corporation of America, and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation in Lakewood, Colorado where he worked on the design of the Hoover dam. At Texas Tech, he was recognized as a member of the Academy of Industrial Engineers.

He founded his own business, Bechtold Engineering Services, Inc., a consulting and steel fabrication business that prepared design and steel fabrication drawings for major steel fabrication plants. At the University of Colorado in Boulder, he designed, initiated and taught the first engineering courses in computer graphics for the school's Dept. of Engineering. From 1968-1969 he researched the application of computer graphics for space flight at NASA Space Center in Houston where he observed the first lunar landing from Houston mission control.

In all aspects of his life, Carl had a passion for designing and building – refining each project to perfection. Once his children had grown, he and Virginia Lee became Christian missionaries to Liberia, West Africa where he was appointed missionary engineer, responsible for construction throughout Liberia. He remarked, this season was "one of the most meaningful times of our lives." Once they returned to the U.S., they lived in Arizona then moved to Colorado to be close to family, settling in Brush in 2010. He was a member of Trinity Baptist church. He believed he was always to be a missionary and was an active member of The Gideons International for many years, ministering through Bible distribution.

He was preceded in death by his birth parents; adoptive parents; two sisters, Betty and Doris; beloved wife; great-granddaughter, Shantel Norell; son-in-law, Stanley "Stan" Norell; and grandson, Christopher Jon "Chris" Bechtold.

Carl is remembered for his tireless work ethic and his undying love for God and his family. He is survived by son Carl William "Bill" Bechtold Jr. (Jean), daughters Nancy Lee Vardell (Woody), Frances Jane Bechtold, Mary Alice Norell Stahley (Charlie), and son John Ad Bechtold (Mary Ella), sixteen grandchildren, thirty-two great-grandchildren, and three great, great-grandchildren.

Visitation for Carl Bechtold and a Celebration of Life service will be held at Heer Mortuaries, 222 Cameron St., Brush, Colorado. Visitation will be Wednesday, April 5 from 4:00pm to 6:00pm and Thursday, April 6 from 9:00am to 10:00am. The Celebration of Life service will be on Thursday, April 6 at 10:30am.

The Graveside service will follow at Merino Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Carl's honor to The Gideons International, Fort Morgan - Brush Gideon Camp, P.O. Box 781, Fort Morgan, Colorado, 80701-0781.