Frank, Sr., and Lena Bechtold
by Betty Odum
(transcribed by RB, with permission from the Mellette County Historical Society, from "Mellette County 1911-1986" published by the Mellette County Historical Society)
Frank Bechtold, Sr., was born in Feaufathal, Russia July 25, 1881, and came with his parents to the United States in 1889 to Tyndall, South Dakota. Magdaline Schmall was born at Tyndall, December 5, 1886. They were married August 24, 1904. They came to Mellette County in 1914 in a covered wagon and lived in a tent until the could get a house built. They homesteaded fifteen miles northwest of White River in what was then known as the Texsam area. Betty remembers how they crossed the Missouri River at Wheeler on a ferry boat.
Mrs. Bechtold always raised a big garden and had the cave full of vegetables to use in the winter. Frank broke an area and planted it to corn and because they had good rains he raised a good crop. Since he was a hog raiser, the corn was fed to the hogs. He was also an avid coyote hunter. There were many coyotes and he loved to go out and get his share.
Like many pioneers they endured prairie fires, drought and grasshoppers, but they enjoyed the open spaces in all of nature's beauty.
Frank, Sr., passed away in 1938. The following year the boys took over the farm, and Lena moved to White River where she lived until her death in 1964. They had raised a family of ten children, five girls and five boys. Eight of them are still living at this writing.
by Betty Odum
(transcribed by RB, with permission from the Mellette County Historical Society, from "Mellette County 1911-1986" published by the Mellette County Historical Society)
Frank Bechtold, Sr., was born in Feaufathal, Russia July 25, 1881, and came with his parents to the United States in 1889 to Tyndall, South Dakota. Magdaline Schmall was born at Tyndall, December 5, 1886. They were married August 24, 1904. They came to Mellette County in 1914 in a covered wagon and lived in a tent until the could get a house built. They homesteaded fifteen miles northwest of White River in what was then known as the Texsam area. Betty remembers how they crossed the Missouri River at Wheeler on a ferry boat.
Mrs. Bechtold always raised a big garden and had the cave full of vegetables to use in the winter. Frank broke an area and planted it to corn and because they had good rains he raised a good crop. Since he was a hog raiser, the corn was fed to the hogs. He was also an avid coyote hunter. There were many coyotes and he loved to go out and get his share.
Like many pioneers they endured prairie fires, drought and grasshoppers, but they enjoyed the open spaces in all of nature's beauty.
Frank, Sr., passed away in 1938. The following year the boys took over the farm, and Lena moved to White River where she lived until her death in 1964. They had raised a family of ten children, five girls and five boys. Eight of them are still living at this writing.
Mellette County, South Dakota
Family Histories & Biographies - Bechtold Surname
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Bechtold Surname
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Bechtold Family
by Devota Hutchinson
(transcribed by RB, with permission from the Mellette County Historical Society, from "Mellette County 1911-1986" published by the Mellette County Historical Society)
The Bechtold family were Germans who moved from Russia in 1889. They came to the United States and settled near Running Water. Hearing of land in Mellette County, Peter, Fred, Frank, Conrad, Carl, and Christ Bechtold came to Mellette County. My grandfather, Christ, lived on the W ½ 22, in 43-31, in what was then called Texsam. His sons, Julius, Emanuel, and Chris, made the move with their parents. A sister, Pauline, the oldest child, was married and did not come with them.
Julius Bechtold and Grace Peterson were married June 4, 1925, at the home of her parents in Murdo. Grace's parents had also homesteaded here, coming to Murdo in 1907 from Tekamah, Nebraska. My grandfather Peterson had come to the United States from Denmark. Grandfather Bechtold, my grandmother Caroline, and Chris returned to eastern South Dakota, where he found employment at Tyndall.
Julius and Emanuel continued to live here. Emanuel married Ruth Rawding. During the 30's, Emanuel and Ruth moved to Washington State, where they lived for many years. They returned to South Dakota in the40's and lived on a farm south of White River.
My parents lived on the farm in Section 22 until September of 1940. My mother, brother Clellan (Buzzy), and I had come to White River and plans were that we would live in town so my oldest brother, Dwight, could attend high school. He was a jockey, and was killed on September 4, 1940, at the State Fair in Huron. My parents could not bear the thought of returning to the farm after his death, so the whole family made the move to White River.
Julius worked for for many years for Ray Eveleth, who was a livestock auctioneer and had some land holdings. He later worked for Eugene Strain and did some farming. In September of 1952, he was killed in a rodeo accident at Witten. Grace later married Wallace King. He had come from Connecticut to settle in the Stamford area. They made their home in White River.
After his death, Mom lived alone in White River until 1975, when she moved to Valentine, Nebraska. She is now living in White River again, and observed her 80th birthday in March of 1985. My brother Buzzy married Margie Pearsall and they now live in Winner.
I married Glen Hutchinson in 1947 and we live in White River. Our three daughters are all married and living away. Glenda, our oldest, married Bernard Ofstehage and they live on a farm near Elk Point. They have five boys. Our son, Keith, passed away at age 18, a victim of leukemia. Rhonda married Rodney J. Week, son of R. A. and Mabel Week, and they now live in Kearney, Nebraska, where they own and operate a livestock auction. They have three children, two girls and a boy. Barb, our youngest, is married to Keith Bailey, and they live in Mitchell, South Dakota.
by Devota Hutchinson
(transcribed by RB, with permission from the Mellette County Historical Society, from "Mellette County 1911-1986" published by the Mellette County Historical Society)
The Bechtold family were Germans who moved from Russia in 1889. They came to the United States and settled near Running Water. Hearing of land in Mellette County, Peter, Fred, Frank, Conrad, Carl, and Christ Bechtold came to Mellette County. My grandfather, Christ, lived on the W ½ 22, in 43-31, in what was then called Texsam. His sons, Julius, Emanuel, and Chris, made the move with their parents. A sister, Pauline, the oldest child, was married and did not come with them.
Julius Bechtold and Grace Peterson were married June 4, 1925, at the home of her parents in Murdo. Grace's parents had also homesteaded here, coming to Murdo in 1907 from Tekamah, Nebraska. My grandfather Peterson had come to the United States from Denmark. Grandfather Bechtold, my grandmother Caroline, and Chris returned to eastern South Dakota, where he found employment at Tyndall.
Julius and Emanuel continued to live here. Emanuel married Ruth Rawding. During the 30's, Emanuel and Ruth moved to Washington State, where they lived for many years. They returned to South Dakota in the40's and lived on a farm south of White River.
My parents lived on the farm in Section 22 until September of 1940. My mother, brother Clellan (Buzzy), and I had come to White River and plans were that we would live in town so my oldest brother, Dwight, could attend high school. He was a jockey, and was killed on September 4, 1940, at the State Fair in Huron. My parents could not bear the thought of returning to the farm after his death, so the whole family made the move to White River.
Julius worked for for many years for Ray Eveleth, who was a livestock auctioneer and had some land holdings. He later worked for Eugene Strain and did some farming. In September of 1952, he was killed in a rodeo accident at Witten. Grace later married Wallace King. He had come from Connecticut to settle in the Stamford area. They made their home in White River.
After his death, Mom lived alone in White River until 1975, when she moved to Valentine, Nebraska. She is now living in White River again, and observed her 80th birthday in March of 1985. My brother Buzzy married Margie Pearsall and they now live in Winner.
I married Glen Hutchinson in 1947 and we live in White River. Our three daughters are all married and living away. Glenda, our oldest, married Bernard Ofstehage and they live on a farm near Elk Point. They have five boys. Our son, Keith, passed away at age 18, a victim of leukemia. Rhonda married Rodney J. Week, son of R. A. and Mabel Week, and they now live in Kearney, Nebraska, where they own and operate a livestock auction. They have three children, two girls and a boy. Barb, our youngest, is married to Keith Bailey, and they live in Mitchell, South Dakota.
All the data on this web site is © Copyright 2009 by Genealogy Trails' Host with full rights reserved for original submitters.
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