LeRoy H. Peterson 1932-1951

PETERSON, WEBER

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 5/4/2011 at 22:01:11

LeRoy Peterson Killed In Auto Accident
Two Other Soldiers Injured
Car Wrecked Near Sparta, Wisc.
Pfc LeRoy Peterson, 19, son of Mrs. Charles Peterson, was killed and two others soldiers from this area critically injured early today on their way back to Camp McCoy, Wis., when the car in which they were riding left the highway and struck a tree. The group was returning after three day passes.

Injured were Sgt. Gordon Ostlund, 23, of Estherville and Cpl. George W. Shaffer, 21 of Ceylon. Ostlund was driving the car owned by Schaffer when the accident occurred two miles west of Sparta, Wisc.

Ostlund was listed in critical condition at a Sparta hospital and Schaffer is at the camp hospital with broken ribs and internal injuries. Cpl. Raymond Athey also was reported as a passenger in the car but he was not listed as injured in the accident.

Mrs. Jack Stevens of Estherville said today that she received a telephone call from her husband who was following the care when it left the road. The group she said, left Estherville about 11 p.m. yesterday but she did not know the time of the accident,.

Mr. Peterson’s father preceded him in death on May 29, 1951. He is survived by his mother; a brother, Eugene of Estherville; a sister, Mrs. Lester Weber (Elnora) of Fairmont, Minn., two uncles, Warren and Henry Peterson of Estherville.

His mother has received word from the army that his body will be sent to Estherville in a few days. (Estherville Daily News, Estherville, IA, August 13, 1951)

Camp McCoy Buddies Served as Pallbearers
Pallbearers for the military funeral of Pfc. LeRoy Peterson last Thursday were Donald Barfoot, Wayne Wogen, Donald Potter, Charles Clark, Donald Hill and Verle Sawyer, all of Camp McCoy. Honorary bearers from Camp McCoy were Rolland Fox, Williams Stuard, Ralph Godsil, James Merrifield, Jack Frederickson, LaVerne Sifrit, Raymond Athey of this area and Kenneth Ochman of Chicago.

Out-of-town relatives and friends who attended the funeral were 31 servicemen of Camp McCoy and one from Mason City, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Herschberger and Eugene of Kenneth, Minn.; Mrs. Bud Bryan and children of Luverne, Minn.; Mrs. Mattie Dahl., Mrs. John Worth, Mr. and Mrs. Knute Peterson, Mrs. Jerry Rydell and Mr. and Mrs. Louis Lahey and son, Rene, of Lake Benton, Minn.; Mr. and Mrs. John Peterson, Tyler, Minn.; Mrs. Floyd Peterson, Ruthton, Minn.; Mrs. Floyd Johnson and Mr. and Mrs. Calvin Dahl of Marshall, Minn.; Kerry Schultz, Mr. and MRs. Chris Christiansen, Mr. and Mrs. Jens Simondson, Mrs. Gilbert Nelson of Humboldt; Mrs. E. R. Fox of Livermore; Mr. and Mrs. Steve Christiansen and Mr. and Mrs. Len Christiansen of Des Moines.

Pfc. Peterson was killed Aug. 13 in an automobile accident near Sparta, Wisc. He was returning to Camp McCoy after a three-day pass in Estherville. He was to have sailed for overseas last Monday. (Estherville Daily News, Estherville, IA, August 23, 1951)