Donald Irvin Bechtel

Divisions Served: “C,” “D,” and “Depot”

Medals & Honours: Commanding Officer’s Commendation, Long Service Medal

Pillar Location: Pillar XI, Row 3, Column B

Story: 

I was born in Southern Ontario and lived in Hespeler and Galt now known as Cambridge, Ontario. I attended the oldest secondary school in Ontario – Galt Collegiate and Vocational School. The same one that my grandmother Bechtel attended. I received the silver award in Academics.

Due to the number of boys “out and about” two men from the Anglican church started a troop of Boy Scouts – 1st Hespeler. Here I learned about service to my community. I obtained the highest level in Scouting “The Queens Scout Award.”
After a stint in college and a few jobs in Cambridge I was looking to leave home for adventure.
One day an advertisement appeared in the local paper by the Hudson Bay Company looking for “clerks” at their stores in Manitoba. I applied and was hired. In the early summer months of 1974  I found myself in a Twin Otter aircraft. I thought we were landing in the bush but was relieved to land on a dirt airstrip in Little Grand Rapids. After spending the summer there, I was transferred to Shamattawa, Manitoba.

Cst Maxwell Churley of Gillam, Manitoba was in Shamattawa one day on one of his scheduled trips. He mentioned to me that I should consider the RCMP as a career. Well I did consider and after all the interviews, test, paperwork and physical examinations I was sworn into the RCMP in Toronto, Ontario on November 24, 1975. I arrived in Regina on a snowy night and joined Troop 19. Through all the highs and lows our troop graduated all 32 men.

In 1976 the Montreal Olympics were scheduled and several troops were going to provide security. I volunteered to be a “fill in” for members that could not go. I was there for 3 months providing security for diplomats and athletes from around the world.

I was then transferred to Portage la Prairie, Manitoba. This was a very busy detachment. The first building I worked in was in the basement of the Town Hall. It had been converted from coal storage years prior. Our files were kept in “chicken coops”. The older constables got the chairs and desks. The rest of us stood at the chicken coop counter. About a year later the present detachment was built and we happily moved in. I was working the night Cst. Denis Onofrey was murdered in Virden, Manitoba. Another night I worked with Cst Bruce Davis. The next day he was killed in a motor vehicle accident. These events changed me forever.

The other detachments I was posted to were Thompson, Neepawa, Amaranth and Steinbach, Manitoba. In Steinbach I was baptized into the Roman Catholic faith and became an active member of the Christ Our Saviour Parish.

The Town Council of Neepawa recognized me for service to the community. In Amaranth I was awarded the “Commanding Officer’s Commendation” for “displaying courage and presence of mind in distracting and disarming an intoxicated person armed with a loaded rifle”. From the Sandy Bay Ojibwa First Nation I received a Star Blanket for my service to the reserve.
I was also given the Long Service Medal by the RCMP.

I met my wife, Anne, in Portage la Prairie. We were married in the Chapel at Depot Division in 1977. My oldest son was born in Portage la Prairie and my daughter was born in Neepawa.
I retired in 2000 and moved to Okotoks, Alberta in 2001. I was employed at several jobs and then retired. I volunteered with Habitat for Humanity and Literacy for Life and presently volunteer with Alberta Health Services at the South Health Campus hospital. I am an active member of St James Parish serving in many roles.
My wife and I have been married for over 42 years and enjoy the beautiful view of the Canadian Rockies.