Located behind a fence at home plate of the Toni Lynn Berchtold Memorial Softball Field is a drinking fountain that contains a bronze plaque monumented in front that reads:
Toni Lynn Berchtold, 40, of Alturas, passed away April 21, 2003, from injuries sustained in a car accident.
Born Toni Lynn Vincent in Willits, CA on August 27, 1962, to Fred and Merrium Vincent, Toni grew up in Laytonville, CA. She is the third of four children and the first girl to play little league hardball in her area. She was a wonderful athlete. Toni played high school volleyball and softball and earned a spot in the All-American book of records for both sports.
She went to high school with Gary Berchtold, who became her husband on September 25, 1982. They have two beautiful daughters Brianna, 18 and Brittany, 15. Gary and Toni spent their first years together in Laytonville and Santa Rosa, then moved to Alturas in 1991. Toni worked as a cook for the Modoc Joint Unified School District for the past 10 years. Toni will be best remembered for her smile, her energy, and the love she brought to every person she met. She was fully devoted to her family and her girls were her pride and joy. A mother who put her family first, she not only took care of Brianna and Brittany, but helped many other young people through tough times. Toni and Gary opened their home to many Modoc kids who think of her as their second mother. Thelma Barker, her neighbor, enjoyed swapping favors with Toni and will miss their afternoons filled with laughter.
Brianna and Brittany are athletes like their mother and Toni did her best to be at every one of their games. You'd find her pacing the fence line at softball games or cheering from the gym bleachers. Her voice, passion, and encouragement for the athletes will be missed by all.
Up and down the halls of each school in Alturas, you'll hear how Toni brought a smile to so many children's faces while she did her job. She was a friend at every school site: breakfast with the little ones in the morning, a friend to middle school students at break, and making lunch at Alturas Elementary something to look forward to for students and staff. Toni paid attention to what was happening with children and helped them through their day. That might include sitting with a Kindergarten student every morning long enough for him to eat his cereal, hugging a middle school student having a rotten day, a quick scold before someone got in trouble, a good tease, a coat when it was below zero outside, or a special treat.
If you wanted to have a good time at any event, you sat near Toni. She had a great sense of humor and a sense of clarity that brought laughter to every situation. With a twinkle in her eye and a skip in her step, she gave 100 percent to everything she did managing to motivate everyone around her. None will forget how she brightened a room, how she greeted all the girls with "Hey girlfriend!," the silver necklace she faithfully wore, the great meals she made after cooking at school all morning, and the cinnamon rolls that made events something to look forward to.
Toni was a wonderful wife, best friend, and business partner to Gary. She was a loving daughter to her parents, and enjoyed a special bond with her sister Pam. She was a devoted, protective sister to her brothers, a special aunt to seven nieces and nephews, and a good friend to so many. She filled the room with light and offered an acceptance of who we all are. Her absence leaves a huge hole that cannot be filled in her family and in her community. Toni loved candles. Her family asks that everyone light a candle, so that "while Toni watches over us, she knows our thoughts are with her."
Toni is survived by her husband Gary Berchtold, her daughters Brianna and Brittany, of Alturas, CA; her parents Fred and Merrium Vincent, Laytonville, CA; her brother Benny Vincent, his wife Lisa, and their children Kiana and Taylor Vincent of Santa Rosa; her sister Pam, her husband Ron, and their children Justin and Nathan Shannon of San Diego; her brother Michael and his daughter Jordyn Vincent of Laytonville; Gary's parents Max and Suzy Berchtold of Laytonville; and her sister-in-law Debbie Carbaugh, and her sons Jason and Eric of Alturas.