Bonnie Ruth Sytsma Searcy 1922-1968

SEARCY, SYTSMA, SUNDAHL, DAVIS, WALSH, OLSON, WEIR, FOSTER, CALLSON, HALSRUD, MCCOMBS

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 12/17/2010 at 22:59:23

Estherville Woman, Terril Youth Killed in Collision
An Estherville woman and a Terril youth were killed when their cars collided about 5 ½ miles north of Terri on Iowa Highway 203 about 1:30 p.m. Sunday [September 8, 1968].

Mrs. Howard (Bonnie Ruth) Searcy, 45, Estherville and Michael Alan Matthews, 17, son of Mr. and Mrs. Darrell Matthews, Terril, were apparently killed instantly when their cars collided on the rain slick highway, according to Dickinson County Sheriff’s officers. Both were alone in their cars at the time of the crash.

The sheriff’s officials theorize that Matthews was northbound when his vehicle skidded out of control and into the path of the Searcy auto. Both vehicles, which were completely demolished, came to rest on the west side of the north-south highway.

Neither driver was thrown from his vehicle by the impact of the crash. Sheriff Robert Baker and Deputy Jim Turck, who investigated the crash, were notified by a passer-by.

The sheriff’s officials said their investigation into the accident is continuing.

Funeral services are pending for Bonnie Ruth Searcy, with Reese-Henry Funeral Home, Estherville in charge.

She was born Oct. 7, 1922 at rural Graettinger to Mr. and Mrs. John Sytsma. Her mother’s maiden name was Mary McCombs.

She moved with her parents to Jackson, Minn., where she attended school.

She was married Oct. 7, 1940 to Howard Searcy at Jackson, Minn., in the Methodist Church.

The couple lived in Fairmont, Minn., for two years and on a farm by Ceylon, Minn., for two years. They have lived in the Estherville area since 1944.

She was a member of the Methodist Church.

Survivors include her husband, Howard Searcy; one son, Garth; her father, John Sytsma; eight sisters, Mrs. Roy (Violet) Sundahl, Paso Robles, Calif.; Mrs. Walter (Helen) Davis, Terril; Mrs. Bernard (Bernice) Walsh, Spirit Lake; Mrs. Lewis (Edith) Olson, Pocahontas; Mrs. Harold (Ruby) Weir, Estherville; Mrs. Gaylord (Maxine) Foster, Jackson, Minn.; Mrs. John (Opal) Callson, Trimont, Minn.; Mrs. Herman (Annabelle) Halsrud, Estherville; three brothers, John, Harvard, Ill.; and Warren and Garth, Hutchinson, Minn. (Estherville Daily News, Estherville, IA, September 9, 1968)