Faythelma Arthel (Brothers) Bechtel was born June 4, 1939, in Battle Creek, Michigan, to Murrell and Pauline (White) Brothers, and passed away on November 7, 2026, at the age of 87, in the home of her son, Nolan.
In 1947, the family moved to Sunnyslope, Arizona. There her parents became members of the Mennonite Church. In 1949, the family moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico. In 1952, the family returned to Battle Creek, Michigan.
Fay became a Christian at the age of 13 and joined the Heath Street Mennonite Church that had started in their home at Battle Creek. She taught Summer Bible School and Sunday School and often walked the streets of the neighborhood inviting children to church.
Because of the family’s many moves, Fay attended a different school every year and sometimes 2-3 schools in the same school year. It was not until the last three years of high school that the family settled, and she attended Battle Creek Central High from which she graduated.
In the summer of 1958, she attended Battle Creek Community College. In the fall, she left for Spring City, Pennsylvania, where she taught 24 students in grades 1-8 at Vincent Mennonite Christian School. She attended college evening classes in Collegeville, Pennsylvania while teaching.
During her second year of teaching, she met Wilmer Bechtel, the brother of three of her students.
She and Wilmer began dating during her second year of teaching in Pennsylvania.
In the 1960-61 school year, Fay taught grades 1-3 at Bethel Springs School in Culp, Arkansas.
This was a mission school for the children in the hills.
On June 24, 1961, Wilmer and Fay were married at the Heath Street Mennonite Church. In November of 1961, they moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana, where Wilmer spent two years in 1-W service at Parkview Hospital.
Their first two children, Cynthia Joy and Merlin Vaughn, were born in Indiana. In 1965, the family moved back to Battle Creek, Michigan, where Nolan Odell and Sonya Renette were born.
In 1970, the family moved across the US to Oregon. Settling in the Estacada area, they lived in the same place for 32 years. They became members of the Porter Mennonite church.
In 1976, Flor, Miriam, and Roni were adopted from Guatemala. In 1987, Joshua was added to the family by adoption, and in 1989, his half-brother Matthew joined the family.
In the year of 2002, Wilmer, Fay, and Matthew moved three miles to the Currin Street address in Estacada. In April 2014, Fay moved to a newly remodeled house at the end of her son’s lane on Surface Road, where she was able to continue her mail order book business which supplemented family income over the years and supported her in the years after Wilmer’s death.
Fay had a heart for children, especially those from unfortunate home situations. Through the years, 35-40 children and adults lived, were baby-sat, or had respite care in the Bechtel home.
Fay has left a legacy in more ways than one, but especially through her writing. She wrote SS quarterlies, SS stories and school curriculum for Christian Light over the years. She also wrote to encourage others in their grief that she so intimately experienced herself. She wrote more than 12 books in all besides a myriad of articles for many periodicals.
Fay is survived by one brother Ronald (Eileen) Brothers of Sellersville, PA; 6 children, Merlin Bechtel of Sumrall, MS; Nolan (Annette) Bechtel of Estacada, OR; Flor (Fred) Rodriguez of Springfield, MO; Miriam (Juan) Lopez of Estacada; OR; Roni (Lisa) Bechtel of Trenton, MO; Matthew (Kacey) Bechtel of Vancouver, WA; 28 grandchildren, and 29 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband Wilmer, daughters Cynthia (Jonathan) Kropf, and Sonya (Jesse) Miller, son Joshua Bechtel, and daughter-in-law Carol (Merlin) Bechtel.