Cameron Sonny Bechthold
On Saturday, July 11, 2026, Cameron Sonny Bechthold, our beloved son, father, brother, and friend, returned home to his Father in Heaven.
Cam was born on August 19, 1976, in Cedar City, Utah, and grew up in Holladay, Utah. He was the second oldest of five boys in a home where there was never a shortage of sock ball games, home run derbies, "snowballing" cars, or a good game of Follow the Judge to Court, played with the endless parade of neighbors and friends Cam always seemed to attract.
Cam loved sports of every kind and would throw himself into any game you could imagine, but wrestling was the sport that stuck. He was a team captain at Churchill Jr High as well as Skyline High, and a state placer. He carried the pride and determination of a wrestler for the rest of his life. He cheered for the Utah Jazz, the Denver Broncos, the St. Louis Cardinals, and much to the confusion of his family, was a diehard BYU Cougar in a family full of Utes.
Off the mat, Cam was a gifted artist and singer who loved performing with the Skyline High Concert Choir and jamming in his car to a good 311 album. He was an Eagle Scout and loved the outdoors. Whether he was scouting with Troop 193 (where he still holds the record for the most Sloppy Joes eaten in one sitting), camping with his family at Beula Lake, hiking with his daughter, or playing a round of disc golf, Cam was happiest outside.
Cam graduated from Skyline High School in 1995 and soon after left to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in St. Louis, Missouri, where he came to love the people of St. Louis as well as the Cardinals. Upon returning home, he worked in several different fields, where he was known for his dependability and strong work ethic. His favorite job was coaching wrestling at Churchill before he eventually settled into his career as a butcher. He was passionate about being a meat cutter and truly loved his job at Costco.
Everything changed for Cam when he met Lulu Parker and they started a family together. Of all the things Cam loved, nothing compared to his daughter, Lilly. When she was born, the center of his world shifted to her and never moved back. Hikes, day trips, movies, daddy-daughter taco nights, visits to the zoo, and sledding adventures, Cam did whatever it took to be there for her. She brought out the very best in him, and to the end, she remained the brightest light he ever knew. Lilly shared that one of her favorite memories of her dad was that he was always singing. Whenever they did chores together, he would sing and dance with her.
Cam fought a long and difficult battle with alcohol addiction, and those who loved him never stopped hoping he would find his way through. In the end, the disease took his life, but it never defined the man he was, the joy he brought into a room, or the fierce love he had for his family.
Cam is survived by his daughter, Lilly; Lilly’s mother, Lulu Parker; his parents, Gene and Robyn Bechthold, and Linda Vigil; his sister, Andrea (Jon) Magness; his brothers, Jeremy (Jennifer), Sam (Julie), Zane, and Nolan; and a village of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, and dear friends who loved him.
A private family gathering will be held at a later date.
If Cameron's life teaches us anything, it's that every person is more than the struggles they face. In his memory, reach out to someone you love who may be struggling. A call, a visit, or a simple "I'm here" can mean more than you'll ever know.
Cam, we love you, and we can't wait to see you again.