Raymond Steele, 1915-1952

STEELE, SWEET

Posted By: Emmet County IAGenWeb Coordinator (email)
Date: 10/1/2010 at 19:15:36

Estherville Grid Coach Dies in Crash

ESTHERVILLE—Funeral services for Ray Steel, Estherville high school football coach who was killed in a two-car collision Friday night near Truesdale, Ia., were held this morning a the Methodist church here.

Driver of the second care, Glen Nelson, 34, Cherokee, Ia., was also killed. Six other persons, including Boyd Berghefer, assistant football coach at Estherville, were injured. All are in a Storm Lake hospital.

Hospital authorities today termed the condition of Berghefer and Mrs. Nelson critical. Berghefer suffered a fractured back and Mrs. Nelson shock and severe lacerations.

Reported in fair condition are Glenda Nelson, 18, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Nelson, Karen Swanson, 17, What Cheer, Ia., Joanne Ryals, 19, and Mary Jo Bierman, 19.

Steel and Berghefer were on their way to scout the Storm Lake-Emmetsburg game and Nelson and his party were enroute to attend the Spencer-Cherokee game.

According to investigating officers, Nelson’s car, attempting to turn north off of a side road onto Highway 71, collided headon with Steel’s car.

Steel is survived by his wife, two daughters, Nancy, 10, and Sandra, 8, and one son, Jack, 4. His mother, Mrs. Alvin Sweet, Estherville, is also a survivor.

Source: Fairmont Sentinel, Fairmont, Minnesota; October 27, 1952.