Bert Reuland 1900-1941

REULAND, BENESH, SCHACHERER

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 7/23/2011 at 23:38:18

Eastern Dickinson Farmer Fatally Burned Threshing
Bert Reuland Dead as Result of Gasoline Explosion While Filling Tractor
Bert Reuland, 47, was fatally burned just before noon Thursday [August 7, 1941] of last week, when the gasoline exploded in the can from which he was attempting to replenish the tractor tank, while the machine was in operation.

The catastrophe occurred on the Herbert Dammon farm, two miles southeast of Superior at about 11:30 a.m. while threshing.

Reports are to the effect that the lid fell off the gasoline can pouring gasoline over the tractor and Reuland, which immediately ignited.

When the gasoline ignited Reuland jumped off the tractor backwards and started rolling on the ground. Men in the threshing crew tried to tear off his flaming clothing, but he was deeply burned by the time they had smothered the fire.

Reuland was immediately taken to the Coleman hospital where he passed away about 8 o’clock that evening.

Reuland suffered both second and third degree burns. His entire body, face and hands were severely burned.

Funeral services were held Monday morning at 9:30 o’clock at the St. Patrick’s church with the Rev. John McGrath reading the requiem mass and officiating at the services. Burial was made in the Catholic cemetery south of Estherville.

Bert Reuland was born January 22, 1900, at White Lake, S.D. When he was a child he moved with his family to Alta, Iowa, where they resided until 1919 when they moved to Emmet county.

On January 15, 1932, he was united in marriage with Miss Lillian Benesh, also of this community. The couple made their home on a farm near Spirit Lake and five years ago moved to the Reuland home place in Richland township. Two sons, Donald Francis and James Everett, were born to Mr. and Mrs. Reuland, who together with their mother, mourn the sudden passing away of their father and husband.

Mr. Reuland was a man who made friends wherever he went. His home and family were uppermost in his thoughts and he worked hard to obtain for them the many little luxuries and pleasures that make life more pleasant.

In his neighborhood and community where he has resided for 21 years, he was most highly respected and admired. This fact was attested to when, after the accident, members of the threshing crew with whom he was working, waited in the corridors of the hospital, unable to continue their work and anxious to do whatever possible to help pull him through. He was given two blood transfusions from his brother, George Reuland.

Mrs. Reuland was a member of the Homesteaders lodge.

Besides his widow and sons, he is also survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. M. O. Reuland of Richland township, two sisters, Miss Catherine Reuland, a nurse in Sioux City, and Mrs. Leroy Schacherer of Wallingford, and four brothers, Frank Reuland and Matt Reuland of Detroit, Mich., and Lawrence Reuland and George Reuland of Superior, together with a number of nieces and nephews. (Spirit Lake Beacon, Spirit Lake, IA, August 14, 1941)

Sixty-three neighbors with 30 bundle racks and three threshing machines, threshed 80 acres of grain for Mrs. Bert Reuland Wednesday. The job was completed shortly after dinner. Ladies of the Happy Hour club of which Mrs. Reuland is a member, served the dinner. (Spirit Lake Beacon, Spirit Lake, IA, August 28, 1941)