Liela (Bechtold) Heeter

Liela (Bechtold) Heeter, 86, North Manchester, IN died at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, February 5, 2017 in Peabody Healthcare Center, North Manchester, IN. She was born July 27, 1930 in St. Louis, MO to Joe & Alma E. (Rudig) Bechtold. She graduated from Chester High School class of 1948. On November 7, 1948 she married Richard Duane "Dick" Heeter. He died July 15, 2009. She played clarinet in the school band and she enjoyed playing piano. She received the Thanks Badge award from the Girl Scouts of U.S.A. for her many years of service to Tribal Trails Girl Scout Council as a troop leader and facilitator of the care of the Girl Scout horses at Camp Kokiwanee, Lagro, IN. In her youth, she showed her pony in 4-H. Growing up on a farm she had pets: cat, bunny, dog: and she learned to drive the John Deere tractor in the field to help her dad. She leaves behind her companion cat "Spot". She and her husband, Dick, managed Heeter's Performance Center for many years. She and her son, Dave, and friend, Don Baker, established the business in 1977. In her work she enjoyed getting to know her customers and exchanging stories with them. She worked six days a week for 40 years.She was a 60 year member of Congregational Christian Church, North Manchester, IN where she enjoyed singing alto in the choir. She is survived by her son, David Joe (Young Soon) Heeter, North Manchester, IN; daughters, Linda (Heeter) Dea, North Manchester, IN and Lori Heeter, North Manchester, IN; grandchildren, Amy K. (Heeter) Pickett, Williamsburg, VA, Justin Duane Heeter, St. Louis, MO, Skylar Lim Daniel Heeter, North Manchester, IN and Catherine E. (Dea) (Drew) Etner, Winona Lake, IN; great grandchildren, Ethan, Alana & Edmund Pickett all of Williamsburg, VA, Aiden, Tristan, Ariana, Catia, Alexa and Landyn Etner all of Winona Lake, IN. Family and friends may call Friday, February 10, 2017 from 5:00-8:00 p.m. at McKee Mortuary, 1401 State Road 114 West, North Manchester, IN. Services will be Saturday, February 11, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. at McKee Mortuary, 1401 State Road 114 West, North Manchester, IN. Pastor J. P. Freeman will officiate. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery, Servia, IN. For those who wish to honor the memory of Liela Heeter, memorial contributions may be made to Congregational Christian Church, 310 N. Walnut Street, North Manchester, IN 46962. To send a private condolence to the Heeter family, use the condolence link on the McKee Mortuary homepage.