User:Lakebec

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Recollections of my Father, Lake M. Bechtell By Betty Bechtell Hill

I remember my Dad, Lake M. Bechtell, to be a kind, loving, patient Father, and can never remember him raising his voice to me or to lose his temper, I never heard him say an unkind word about anyone, I miss him, my Darling Mother and my two brothers. Bob and Bud, and my sister Joyce, I am the only one left in our immediate family, but i have two great sisters-in-laws(Kathryn & Kathleen), and eight wonderful Nieces and nephews. We had our troubles like all families, but were lucky to have a good upbringing and to have been raised in Prineville. Dad was an Adventurer, and we were always going camping, and trips to the Beach,& Portland. It took a couple of days to get to the beach and a whole day to the city, We must have driven over every country road and narrow roads in the hills and country around. We also went on a lot of picnics to the Lakes around and the mountains or hills. Dad would take us ice skating on the Dam and tobogganing, in the back of his car, as there was a lot of snow way back then in the 20's and 30's. My Dad played varsity baseball at the U. of Iowa, and joined the local town team, which was considered one of the best in the state, and included the late Hal McCall, Fod Maisan, Robert T. Lister, Art Michel, A. B. Bowman, Ernie Grimes and Many others. He loved to go hunting and fishing. He had among his hunting companions were Ty Cobb, General Kenyon A. Joyce, Col. Orie johnson and Dean Witter, they all used to congregate at the Hugh Lakin ranch on Mill Creek and Enjoyed many good times. He also played golf and belonged to the Prineville Country Club and was interested in all sports. TV brought him

Page 2 (L. M. Bechtell) a lot of enjoyment in his later years,(he wachet all the games) He also loved gardening and kept his yard up. He lived to a ripe old age of 91, and had a very successful and useful life. About May, 1910,he and Asa W. Battles, well known insurance man, came to Portland(from Iowa). They, together with five other young men of Portland, went to Brownsville, Oregon and rented two horse driven vehicles, they came over the Santiam pass to Prineville. Dad was honored for 50 years of law practice, and was appointed city attorney He was elected to the City council and mayor of the city until Oct., 1928, when he was appointed district attorney for Crook County until Jan, 1, 1953.

Nice article from the Bend Bulletin June 1974 P7: http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1243&dat=19740604&id=MAg0AAAAIBAJ&sjid=HvgDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4880,5930779