Alvin Bechtle of Golden Valley, North Dakota was united in marriage to Clara Gunderson of Valley City, North Dakota. Clara was born at Valley City, North Dakota, December 7, 1896 to T. M. and Justine Gunderson. She taught school in various places in North Dakota, Sanborn, Nome and Golden Valley, North Dakota. Clara and her sister Gunda were the first two teachers in the Raritan Consolidated School near Nome, North Dakota.
They made their home in Golden Valley until Alvin Bechtle became crippled from arthritis, which necessitated his being hospitalized for a number of years. He passed away in 1943, this left Clara with a family of six to raise but she had been endowed with a great deal of her Mother's stamina and perseverance and was up to the task before her. She became Supervisor of the Federal Cannery set up during the depression. Later she ran for County Auditor (following in her father's footsteps) and won the election. She held this position until passing away in 1961 from Cancer. She was awarded the honor of being nominated as "North Dakota Mother" of the year 1956.
The family consisted of the following children: ROBERT of Manhattan, Kansas, graduated from the Valley City High School and State College of Valley City. He took graduate work at the University of Minnesota and also at State College of Agriculture at Manhattan, Kansas, and received his Doctorate in Bio-Chemistry.
RAYMOND also graduated from Valley City High School and Valley City State College. Received his Master's from the University of Minnesota and is Director of Educational Development and Resources of the Edina Public Schools, Edina, Minnesota. He married Lorayne Stedje of Starbuck, Minnesota. They have three boys and one girl. The girl was married in June 1975 to Jeff Larkin.
JANE graduated from the Valley City High School and attended a Business college in Minneapolis, after which she worked for the Grossman Chevrolet of Minneapolis, as Credit Manager, until her marriage to Maurice Melberg. They live at Kerrick, Minnesota, and they have two boys.
BILLIE JEAN graduated from the Valley City High School and also had received a Teaching Certificate from the Valley City State College. She received her B.A. degree from Mankato State College of Mankato, Minnesota. She taught school at Lancaster, Minnesota and Blooming Prairie, Minnesota. She met and was married to John Ulland, of Blooming Prairie. They have a family of four boys.
RICHARD graduated from the State College High School and took schooling in restaurant work at Minneapolis. He works in Manhattan, Kansas. He and Robert have an apartment together.
NANCY graduated from the Valley City High School and took a course in Dental Hygiene at Minnesota University. She works for a Dental Clinic in Minneapolis. She is married to Kenneth McCorkel an Interior Decorator. They live in Hopkins, Minnesota.
Source: Barnes County History 1976 Page 24