Elizabeth A. (Betty) Bechtel passed away at Mt. Nittany Medical Center on March 12, 2025. Betty was born August 3, 1945, at Miami (Florida) General Hospital, the eldest daughter of Alfred and Katherine Bechtel of Portsmouth, Rhode Island. She is survived by brothers, James and Peter Bechtel, and her sister Carolyn (Cajee).
Betty grew up in Portsmouth, her family arriving there in 1950. She was a smart and accomplished student and excelled in all classes. She had great talent on stage as well and was cast as the leading lady in her senior class play. She graduated as the salutatorian of her high school class at Warren High School, Warren, Rhode Island.
Betty earned a National Merit Scholarship and enrolled at Michigan State University, where she earned a degree in English. She taught high school English in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania for a two years and then enrolled at Penn State, where she earned an MA in English and completed additional graduate work. This is where Happy Valley cast its spell, and Betty would then spend the majority of her life in Boalsburg or State College. She made many good friends there and although she would leave for a few years to take care of family, her heart was always in State College.
Professionally, she spent many years employed at Penn State, principally in marketing and outreach, and retired from the university. She also worked for the Penn State Alumni Association’s Penn Stater; and for Barash Advertising, as editor of Town & Gown.
She was very active on stage and behind the scenes at the State College Community Theatre for many years and sang in the St. Andrew’s choir for many years. She was an avid genealogist and loved researching and discussing her family history, which stretched back to colonial Philadelphia and pre-Civil War Tennessee.
Betty will be remembered best for her generous heart and her loving care for her grandparents, parents, sister Cajee, and her many friends. She loved word puzzles and was an inveterate punster, often competing with her brothers, Jim and Pete, for best worst pun. She was an avid reader, even after declining vision slowed her down, and loved cooking for family and friends at holidays and any other excuse. The annual recipients of her incredible cookie production at Christmas will miss these treats sorely.
A memorial service is scheduled for Saturday, May 17th at 11:00am at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 208 W. Foster Ave, State College with a reception following in Canterbury Hall.
In place of flowers, please consider a donation in Betty’s memory to the Wells Fund at St. Andrew’s to support and enrich their music program.
A graveside service also will be held later at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Portsmouth.