Steven D. Bech, 68, passed away at home Saturday, May 11, 2013, surrounded by his wife and two sons.

He was born Feb. 15, 1945, in Spokane, to Raymond R. “Rasmus” Bech and June Vinther Bech. Spending his first eight years of schooling at Roosevelt Grade School, he then attended Lewis & Clark High School where he was a member of the varsity basketball team,  graduating from there in 1963.

Briefly attending Wenatchee Junior College, he transferred to Linfield College in McMinnville, Ore., where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in physical education in 1968. Subsequently he served in the Army Reserve from 1969 to 1975, as sergeant, drill instructor and electrician.

Having earned his way through college by working summers for Power City Electric of Spokane, he found his vocational joy in line work and subsequently earned his journeyman lineman’s ticket from the Northwest Line Construction Joint Apprenticeship Training Council in 1974. He worked for line contractors Swain & Morris, Williams Construction and Power City Electric before joining Washington Water Power Company in 1974.

In 1980, he moved to Montana to work with Pacific Power & Light in Kalispell. Working as a journeyman lineman for 13 years, he was promoted to district line foreman in 1993. With the acquisition of Montana PP&L by Flathead Electric in 1998, Steve elected to remain in Kalispell and became safety manager for Flathead Electric until his retirement in 2007.

Steve loved the out-of-doors, enjoying countless hours in the Flathead skiing in the winter and hiking in the summer. But his heart belonged to the family lake cabin on 8 Mile Island in Priest Lake, Idaho, where his family has summered since 1900.

Steve loved line work and believed that work should be fun. He believed passionately in electrical safety. Having done two pole-top rescues of co-workers in Spokane and then, shortly after, moving to Kalispell, having been saddened by the electrocution of a child climbing in a tree, he took it as a personal crusade to push for awareness of the facts and dangers of electrical powerlines, devoting himself to the “Zap Board” presentations to local schools which brought him so much joy.

Steve was married July 7, 1973, to Eileen Bach of Helena. They made their home in Spokane where son Aaron was born in 1976, and then in Kalispell where son Nathaniel was born in 1980. The family spent many years as members of Epworth United Methodist Church, and then later as members of the Flathead Valley UCC.

Steve was active during his working years with Glacier Kiwanis and also thoroughly enjoyed his role as a “Lunch Pail Pal” with the Big Brothers Big Sisters program. After his retirement, Steve spent many happy hours volunteering in the woodworking classes of Jeff Steiner at Flathead High School where he again enjoyed working with students and emphasizing safe working practices.

He is survived by his wife, Eileen, of Kalispell; by his son, Aaron, and his wife, Kaarin Ekstrum, and children, Annika and Colin of Portland; by his son, Nathaniel, currently of Kalispell; as well as by his three brothers, Terry R. Bech of Enschede, Netherlands, and son Daniel and family of San Francisco; James W. Bech and wife, Gay, of Spokane with children, Delsey and family of Spokane, and Cory and family of Baton Rouge, La.; and Stanley V. Bech and wife, Peggy, of Spokane and children, Patrick, Katrina, and Megan of that city. Also surviving is his mother’s sister, Aunt Jean Corbin, of Spokane; as well as numerous cousins, grandnieces and grandnephews.

The family requests memorials to be donated to Foy’s to Blacktail Trails in memory of Steve: online at www.FoystoBlacktailTrails.org, or email info@FoysToBlacktailTrails.org.

Funeral services for Steve will be held at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 16, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, with interment to follow at C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery. A buffet reception will follow at a location to be announced.

Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home is caring for Steve’s family. You are invited to go to www.jgfuneralhome.com to offer condolences and view Steve’s tribute wall.