Nancy Ann Graves 1947-1963

GRAVES, SOREM

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 10/29/2011 at 16:34:43

Nancy Graves Killed in Car-Train Crash
Spirit Lake – Nancy Graves, 15, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. M.P. (Mike) Graves, Gruver, was killed outright in a car-train collision here late Wednesday night [May 29, 1963]. Linda Sue Henaman, 16, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Henaman, Estherville, remained in “fair condition but some improved” at Dickinson County Memorial hospital. She was suffering from severe facial lacerations, concussion of the brain and possible other undetermined injuries. Examinations were conducting to determine the full extent of her injuries.

According to Highway Patrolman Jim Bonstetter who investigated the accident, the two girls had attended a drive-in movie and were en route to Orleans where their parents have summer homes on the shore of Big Spirit Lake.
They turned east on the county blacktop highway off Highway 71 near Elm-Brooks Country Club at the north edge of Okoboji. The Henaman girl who was driving apparently failed to see the approach of Milwaukee freight train No. 541 from the south and drove across the track in front of the oncoming locomotive, Bonstetter said. The train engine struck the car broadside, pushed it across the road and threw it off the right-of-way down a steep bank and into a gully 12 feet below. A cross-arm railroad crossing sign in the path of the car was broken.

The dead girl was thrown free of the wreckage, but reportedly, the weight of the car fell upon her, crushing her.

James Cliff Heisler, Des Moines, and J.M. McHone, Perry, engineer and brakeman, said they saw the car approach and sounded the locomotive whistle twice. The train was traveling at a speed of 28 miles per hour but was unable to stop in time to avoid the crash, the two men said. Time of the accident was placed at 11:10 p.m.

Assisting Bonstetter were Patrol Sgt. Ralph Blankenbaker, Sheriff Ike Kissinger and city Police Chief Earl Miller and Officer Corky Omar.

Funeral services for Nancy are to be Saturday at 10 a.m. at United Presbyterian Church in Gruver, the Rev. L.V. Osborne officiating. Interment will be in East Side Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Jim Origer, Larry Kaltvedt, Jan Jansen, Perry Stow, Jon Reid and David Young.

Friends may call at Fuhrman Funeral Home after 4 p.m. today.

Nancy was born July 16, 1947 at Holy Family Hospital and has spent her entire life in Gruver. She attended elementary school there and last week completed her sophomore year of high school.

She was an honor student and a regular forward on the Lincoln-Central girls’ basketball team, which last winter won 23 consecutive games before losing in the district finals.

Nancy also was interested in music and was a member of the Lincoln-Central flute trio and was one of those receiving music awards the last week of school.

She was a member of the United Presbyterian Church at Gruver.

Surviving her death are her parents, two sisters, Pamela, a senior at the State University of Iowa, and Elizabeth, 7; a brother, Darby, who was graduated this spring from high school; and grandparents, Mrs. Paul H. Graves of Gruver and Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Sorem of Morris, Ill. (Estherville Daily News, Estherville, IA, May 31, 1963)

One Girl Killed, Another Injured in Car Collision
Linda Sue Hennaman, 16, of Estherville is reported making satisfactory progress at Dickinson County Memorial Hospital where she was taken following an auto-train crash Wednesday night in which she was injured and a companion, Nancy Graves, 15, of Gruver, was killed.

The two girls, whose families have cottages on Big Spirit Lake, were returning from a drive in theater when the sports car [1963 Mustang] in which they were riding was struck broadside by a Milwaukee road freight train.

The accident occurred about 11:10 p.m. at a crossing just north of Okoboji. Miss Graves, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. M.P. Graves was thrown about 75 feet and over a high embankment. The car evidently approached the train crossing without slowing down.

Services for the Graves girl were held Saturday morning.

Miss Hennaman, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William P. Hennaman, was listed in fair condition although still only semi-conscious by hospital attendants Friday. But she is now “coming along fine,” according to hospital reports. (Milford Mail and Terril Record, Milford, IA, June 6, 1963)