Linda T. Bechtel

Linda Thompson Bechtel

November 7, 1938 - January 1, 2025

Linda Thompson Bechtel of Casper died on Wednesday, January 1, 2025 at Wyoming Medical Center. She was 86.

Linda was born in Cheyenne, Wyoming on November 7th, 1938 to Lorraine and Torris “Jake”Thompson. She was raised in Casper. Linda graduated from Natrona County High School in 1957 and attended Eastern Montana College in Billings, Montana before finishing her education degree at the University of Wyoming. 

In 1963, she married Thomas T. Bechtel. They lived in a small cabin on Casper Mountain before moving to town to raise their three children. Tom and Linda remained closely tied to the Casper Mountain community throughout their lives.

Linda started her teaching career at the Wyoming School for the Deaf, leaving that job to raise her children starting in 1968. In 1977 she opened Household Appraisal Service, and worked from home as a silver and antique appraiser for several years. She returned to education in the early 1980s as the Special Education Director at the Casper Child Development Center. She retired in 2003.

Linda was a wonderful friend, and enjoyed nothing more than having a houseful of guests. She and Tom always made an effort to connect with people, and their door was always open…even to friends of friends whom they’d never met. 

Linda was a lifelong supporter of education in Wyoming. 

She was a member of Service League, PEO, and served on the Wyoming Council of the Blind Board of Directors.

Linda was preceded in death by both of her parents and her husband, Tom. She is survived by her daughter, Leslie Van Orman and her husband Scott, son Steve and his wife Ellen, and son Jeff and his wife Stacey Buckelew. Linda is also survived by her three grandchildren, Sam (16), Anabel (13), and Orin (2).

A memorial to celebrate Linda’s life will be held on Casper Mountain on June 21st, 2025 at 11am at the Bechtel family cabin. For more information email steve@elementalgym.com

Memorials can be made to the Wyoming Department of Education - Montgomery Trust for the Blind (checks should be written to the the Wyoming Department of Education, with Montgomery Trust in the memo line - 215 Lincoln St. Lander, WY 82520) or the Casper Child Development Center (2020 E. 12th St. Casper, WY 82601).

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