Grace Bechtel

Grace Bechtel, 91, of Lansing passed away Monday, September 8, 2014 at Thornton Manor in Lansing. Funeral Services were held Saturday, September 13 at the United Methodist Church in Lansing, with Rev. Kevin Smith as the officiant. Interment was at Oak Hill Cemetery, Lansing.
Grace, the daughter of John and Bertha (Cole) Hill, was born June 14, 1923 in Allamakee County. She attended grade school at Oil Springs School in Harpers Ferry and high school through the tenth grade in Lansing.  She then helped her parents raise her nine brothers and sisters.
She was united in marriage with Harold Lang in August of 1940. To this union two children were born, Richard and Marge. Harold and Grace later divorced. Grace was then united in marriage with Merlin Bechtel August 28, 1946. To this union two children were born, Marla and Karen. Merlin passed away in June of 1996.
Grace worked for many years at the Lansing Button Company. She also worked at various restaurants in the Lansing area as a waitress and pie maker.
Grace was a member of the Lansing United Methodist Church and had been active in the Lansing Senior Citizens Group. She loved to dance, crochet, quilt and embroider.  Grace always made time to cook and bake, and she spent almost every weekend with her brothers and sisters playing cards.
Grace is survived by her children, Richard (Louise) Lang of Ely, Marge Hesse-Baldwin of Decorah, Marla (Ted) Haerer of La Crescent, MN and Karen (Bill) Ferring of Lansing; ten grandchildren, Melissa and Michelle Lang, Donna Quam, Deb Kaiser, Steve and Tammy Hesse, Amy Lorenz, Angela Schlack-Haerer, and Jessica and Katelyn Ferring; 19 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; two brothers, Kenneth “Sam” (Charlotte) Hill of Harpers Ferry and Eddie Hill of Cedar Rapids; and one sister, Mary (Don) Moritz of Maquoketa.
Grace was preceded in death by her husband, Merlin; her parents; four brothers, Walter, Johnny, Melvin and Floyd Hill; and two sisters, Agnes Seitz and Betty Ronan.
Thornburg-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Lansing assisted the family with arrangements. Online condolences can be left at www.graufuneralhomes.com.