Clara Viola Bechtold was born September 8, 1915 at Chase, B.C., Canada to Joseph and Mary (Zeitner) Stahlecker. She was the youngest of five brothers and two sisters, all of whom preceded her in death.

Clara was united in marriage to Albert Bechtold on May 9, 1935. They had two daughters: Carol and Shirley. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in May of 1985.

Clara was baptized into the Lutheran Faith and was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Naper. Albert and Clara lived in Naper where she operated Clara's Coffee Shop, before moving to a farm west of Naper.

Albert died June 19, 1991 and Clara continued living on the farm until 2002 when she sold the farm and moved into Naper. In 2003, she moved to Country View Manor in Butte, Nebraska and later to the Butte Health Care Center.

She died March 19, 2006 at the age of 90 years.

Clara enjoyed the farm life, especially her flowers and garden. Sewing, quilting and canning the produce raised in the garden were her hobbies in life.

Clara is survived by her two daughters: Carol (Bernard) Ludemann of North Platte, NE and Shirley Olivier of Kimball, SD; four grandchildren: Bret (Roxanne) Ludemann of North Platte, NE; JoDee (Russell) Palmer of Cheyenne, WY; Shane Olivier of Pierre, SD, and Yvette (Travis) Plooster of Sioux Falls, SD; five great-grandchildren: Brooke Ludemann, Macy Palmer, Madeline Olivier, Braedyn Plooster, and Dan Traversie; two sisters-in-law: Violet Stahlecker of Tilden, NE and Ella Bechtold of Naper, NE.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, March 25, 2006 at 10:30 AM at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Naper, NE. Burial will be in the Knollcrest Cemetery, Naper. There will be a prayer service on Friday at 7:30 PM at the Church. Visitation will be one hour prior to both services at the church.

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