Lyle William "Bill" Beltch

Lyle William “Bill” Beltch, an Army veteran of the Vietnam War, didn’t waiver from his life-long character traits of bravery and determination as he fought a chronic illness. Bill passed away on August 4, 2024 at the age of 86 surrounded by his dedicated wife and loved ones.

Bill was born to William James Beltch and Blanche Sponsel Beltch on July 26, 1938, in Wewoka, Oklahoma. Bill was raised along with his three siblings in Goodland, Kansas.

Bill chased his dreams of service and adventure and enlisted in the Army and began what would be a 20-year distinguished career. He served with the 82 nd and 101 st Airborne Divisions, graduated from Airborne School, and was a Green Beret with the U.S. Army Special Forces in Vietnam. Bill talked most about having served as an Arctic Ranger Master Parachutist with the 5 th Infantry in Alaska in which he participated in the first recorded airborne operation in history to parachute onto the polar ice cap. Beyond many unit awards and ribbons, Bill was awarded the Silver Star, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal with oak leaf clusters, and a “V” for Valor, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm Device, and the Vietnam Service Medal with 5 service stars. Bill retired as Unit Commander in 1976 at Fort Carson, Colorado and went on to earn his master’s degree in education at The University of Colorado at Colorado Springs and begin a career in teaching. He taught with the Bureau of Indian Affairs in New Mexico, Vinnell Corporation in Saudi Arabia, and taught special education classes in Colorado, Guam, and Kansas before retiring and moving with his wife to New Braunfels, Texas to be near his grandchildren.

Bill’s military and professional accomplishments aside, he would say that what was most important and what he valued above all was his family and faith in God. Bill married the love of his life, Myra and highly cherished their 60 years together, raised his two children, Michael and Elizabeth, prioritized spending time with his grandchildren, Nicholas and Gabriella and lived his life with the love of the church, family, and adventure in his heart.

Bill was a devout Catholic with a special devotion to Padre Pio and saying his daily rosary, a true outdoorsman who traveled the world, had a love of nature, hunting, fishing, camping, and scuba diving and was known for his quick wit, sense of humor, and mostly funny jokes.

Bill is survived by and will be dearly missed by his wife, Myra (Tate) Beltch of New Braunfels, Texas; son, Michael Beltch of Holly Springs, North
Carolina; daughter, Elizabeth (Beltch) Quan of San Antonio, Texas; grandson, Nicholas Quan of Tamuning, Guam; granddaughter Gabriella (Drey) Quenga of Henderson, Nevada; great granddaughter Anastasia Quenga of Henderson, Nevada; brother, James (Rose Ann deceased) Beltch of Lawrence Kansas; sister, Karen (Lawrence) Pfeifer of LaRue, Texas; and sister, Jeananne (Ronnie) Barkley of Thermopolis, Wyoming.

The funeral mass for Bill will be at 10:00am on August 22, 2024 at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church, 386 N Castell Ave, New Braunfels, TX 78130. The internment of ashes will take place at a later date at Sandhills State Veteran’s Cemetery in Fayetteville, North Carolina.