THIES, Royal Fredrick 1908 - 1960

THIS, SWEHLA, WOOD, AXELSEN

Posted By: Pat Ludeke (email)
Date: 5/21/2014 at 00:32:48

ROYAL THIES, LAKE FARMER, DIES FROM GUN ACCIDENT

CLEAR LAKE – Royal F. Thies, 51, Route 2, Clear Lake, died at 7:55 Thursday morning at his home when a .22 caliber rifle discharged.

He kept the gun loaded in his basement for use in killing rats about the farm. Coroner J. E. Christopherson reported Thies was found at the bottom of the basement stairs and Dr. Christopherson believes that he might have stumbled on the stairs while carrying the gun.

His mother, Julia Thies, who made her home with him, said he had been out last night shooting. She was on the first floor of the house when the accident occurred. He had dressed his young son who was ready to leave for school when the accident occurred.

The coroner reported there was no evidence of suicidal tendencies and ruled the case accidental.

In Mrs. Thies’ anxiety over the accident she called the fire-phone at the police station and asked them to come at once. The fire department answered the call and then called the police.

Royal Fredrick Thies was born July 29, 1908, the son of Mr. and Mrs. F. B. Thies. He was graduated from Clear Lake High School in 1927 and on Feb. 15, 1941, was married to Constance Mae Axelsen. She died in 1957. He had farmed most of his life.

Surviving are his mother, one son, Ronald, 6, and one sister, Mrs. Leo (Phyllis) Wood, Clear Lake.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete at the Wilcox Funeral Home.

SET SERVICES FOR ROYAL THIES AT LUTHERAN CHURCH

CLEAR LAKE – Funeral services for Royal F. Thies, 51, Route 2, Clear Lake, will be held Saturday at 2 p.m. at Zion Lutheran Church. Pastors Richard Ellingson and I. A. Lavik will conduct the service. Burial will be in Clear Lake Cemetery. The Wilcox Funeral Home is in charge.

Royal Thies died Thursday at 7:55 a.m. at his farm home north of Clear Lake when he was accidentally shot in the side of his head by a bullet from a rifle.

Royal Fredrick Thies was born July 29, 1908, at Eldorado, the son of Fred and Julia Swehla Thies. He had lived in Clear lake vicinity for 26 years.

Besides his son, Ronnie, 6; his mother and one sister, Mrs. Phyllis Wood, Clear Lake, he is survived by two half-brothers, Lallie Thies, Hendricks, Minn., and Clifford Thies, Fertile, Minn. Preceding him in death were his wife, Constance, in 1957 and his father.

LUTHERAN PASTORS CONDUCT RITES FOR ROYAL THIES

CLEAR LAKE – Funeral services for Royal Thies, 51, Route 2, were held Saturday afternoon at Zion Lutheran Church. Pastors Richard Ellingson and I. A. Lavik, conducted the service. The Wilcox Funeral Home was in charge.

Mr. Thies was killed Thursday in a gun accident at his home.

Glenn Erickson and Ludwig Wangberg sang a duet, accompanied at the piano by Neal Luker. Mr. H. L. Erickson was organist. Mrs. Ernest Smith, Helen Wistey and Miss Alma Tokle arranged the flowers.

Pallbearers were Ernest Smith, Harry Eliasen, Tom Nelson Jr., George Lunn Jr., Arlo Erickson, J. O. Hammond, Irving Ashland and Guy Warner.

Transcriber’s Note – Royal Fredrick Thies was born July 29, 1908, died April 1960 and was buried in the Clear Lake Cemetery, Section 2 Row 10.