Mildred Bechtel

Mildred Evelyn "Millie" Bechtel, 92, of Lansing passed away at Thornton Manor Nursing Center in Lansing Saturday, August 13, 2016 after a battle with Alzheimer's. Funeral Services were held Thursday, August 18 at Our Savior Lutheran Church, Lansing, with Rev. Laura Gentry as the Officiant. Burial followed at Lansing Ridge Cemetery, rural Lansing.

Millie was born December 16, 1923, the daughter of Berger and Janette (Johnson) Olsen in Lansing. She was the oldest of nine children. Millie attended school in Lansing, but had to quit before graduating to help her mother take care of her siblings.

December 20, 1944, Millie married Harold Bechtel and together they built their home in Church. They had one daughter, Diana.

Millie was a stay at home mom until her daughter started school, and then went to work at the Lansing Company button factory. She worked there 32 years and then quit to stay at home to take care of Harold, who had been stricken with cancer. Harold passed away May 14, 1994.

In her spare time, Millie enjoyed reading books, working crossword puzzles and keeping track of the tow boat names as they went up and down the Mississippi River.

Millie is survived by her daughter, Diana (Dave) Moritz of Lansing; her grandson, Dave (Kathy) Moritz, Jr. of Lansing; her great-granddaughters, Allison and Arin Moritz, of Lansing; her sister, Eleanora Thorpe of Cedar Rapids; her brothers, Alfred Olsen of Waukon, Elmer (Charlotte) Olsen of Cedar Rapids, LeRoy (Shirley) Olsen of Marshalltown and Jim (Jan) Olsen of Lowden.

Millie was preceded in death by her husband, Harold; her brothers, Floyd, Joe and Harvey Olsen; her sisters-in-law, Arlene Olsen and Florence Olsen; and a brother-in-law, Gene Thorpe.

Thornburg-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Lansing assisted the family with arrangements.