Woman Gets Prison Term for Killing
Elkader, Iowa, May 5 (AP) - Twenty-five years in the women's reformatory at Rockwell City is faced by Mrs. Ben Funk, 32, who yesterday pleaded guilty to slaying John Buchheim, Clayton county farmer. Judge Eichendorf of Clayton district court immediately passed sentence and the woman is expected to be taken to prison the first of next week. Mrs. Funk was arrested for investigation several days after Buchheim was shot to death in a field near his home in Clayton Center, April 26. She confessed she donned male clothing, went to Buchheim's home and shot him and then fled to her home. The male attire was intended to divert suspicion, she said.
~The Bismarck Tribune
Bismarck, North Dakota
May 5, 1928
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Notes:
1920 U.S. Census, Read twp., Clayton co. Iowa
Ben Funk, age 35, married, b. Iowa, parents b. Germany, occupation: farms, general farm
Ernestina Funk, wife, age 23, b. Iowa, father b. Germany, mother b. Iowa
Inex Funk, daughter, age 3 1/2, b. Iowa
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1925 Iowa State Census, Read twp., Clayton co. Iowa
Ben Funk, age 41; father: Carl Funk, age 67; mother: Amelia Gruening, age 62
Tina Funk, age 27; father: John Meenan; mother: Whilmina Willie, age 55
Inez Funk, age 8
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1930 U.S. Census, Center twp., Calhoun co. Iowa; Women's Reformatory; April 4, 1930
Emeline Funk, prisoner, age 31, married, age at first marriage: 18
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Ernestina 'Tina' Meenan was born 7/25/1897 and died 11/11/1972. Buried Clayton Center cemetery.
She married:
1st Ben Funk, they divorced, d. 1974, buried Clayton Center
2nd John Putzier, d. 1950, bur. Garnavillo City cemetery
3rd Arnold Kruse, d. 1976, bur. Immanuel Lutheran cemetery
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