Paul William Bechthold

Paul William Bechthold was born January 25, 1928, in Windsor, Colorado to William and Marie (Propp) Bechthold. Paul attended elementary schools in Windsor, Colorado and finished junior and senior high schools in Eaton, Colorado graduating in 1945.

Paul attended Colorado A & M (CSU) in 1945 and entered the United States Navy in 1946 and was honorably discharged in 1948. He re-enrolled at CSU in January 1949 graduating in June 1952 with a B.S. in Civil Engineering. Paul was the first employee of a new consulting engineering firm in Greeley. The accomplishment he was most proud of there was the planning and construction of Sunset Memorial Gardens. In January 1954, he entered the life insurance profession with Guarantee Mutual Life Company.

Paul married Doris Darlene "Til" White on July 1, 1950, and that union brought two children into this world: Debra Lee Krebs and Paul Scott Bechthold. They were married 32 years until Til Bechthold died February 25, 1983. Paul remarried January 21, 1984, to Leola L. Buss and they were married 31 years until Leola died on June 25, 2015. Peg Riley was a significant companion during his last eight years until her death last year.

Paul was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Greeley where he was a trustee, finance committee member and served on the permanent endowment committee.

He was a past president of the Weld County CSU Alumni Association and life-time member of the CSU Alumni Association. He was an active member of the Republican Party and served as precinct committee man. Paul was also a member of the American Legion, Greeley Elks Lodge, and past member of the Greeley Country Club.

Paul's career accomplishments were numerous as member and past president of the following: Greeley Association of Life Underwriters, Colorado Association of Life Underwriters, Northern Rocky Mountain Chapter CLU and ChFC, and Northern Colorado Estate Planning Council. He received his Chartered Life Underwriters designation in 1964, the Chartered Financial Consultants designation the Life Underwriters Training Council Fellow designation in 1985, and taught many insurance classes.

He is survived by his daughter Debra Krebs (Fred), son Paul Scott Bechthold (Lorri), three grandchildren (Katie, Blair, Steffanie), eight great-grandchildren, sister Edna Burgess and many nephews and nieces. He is predeceased by his parents, two sisters (Dorothy Wood, Wynona Sullivan) and grandson (Zachary Bechthold). There will be a Celebration of Life Service at The Trinity Episcopal Church 3800 W. 20th St, Greeley, CO 80634 at 2pm on March 25, 2026

Memorial gifts may be made to the First United Methodist Church in Greeley, Colorado.