Dennis Patrick "Pat" Mitchell 1964-1971

MITCHELL, BOLTY, SHULL, KROSCH, MASON

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 1/8/2012 at 00:04:28

Two N. Mankato boys killed when earth collapses
North Mankato, Minn. – Eight feet of earth and sand collapsed Sunday, killing two young North Mankato brothers, police said.

Police identified the victims as Jeffrey Mitchell, 11, and brother Dennis, 7, the sons of Mrs. Julia Mitchell, North Mankato.

Police said the boys and an older brother, were apparently digging into a mound of sand and earth which had been piled up along the Minnesota River in preparation for the laying of concrete culverts.

Authorities said when the mound collapsed, Gordon Mitchell, 13, jumped to safety. He tried unsuccessfully to free the two, police said, then rant to a nearby house to summon authorities.

The two boys were dead when authorities dug them out. (Winona Daily News, Winona, MN, September 27, 1971)

Wednesday Rites for Mitchells
Services for Jeffrey Randall, 11, and Dennis Patrick Mitchell, Jr., 7, will be held at the Presbyterian Church in Estherville at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday.

The brothers, sons of Mrs. Julia Mitchell, who moved to Mankato, Minn., in July, died in a cave-in near the Minnesota River at Mankato Sunday [September 26, 1971]. Their father is Dennis Mitchell of Davis, Calif.

Jeffrey Randall Mitchell was born June 19, 1960, in Estherville and received his education in Estherville and California schools. Dennis Patrick Jr. was born Jan. 15, 1964, in Estherville and attended Estherville schools.

They are survived by their mother; father; one brother, Gordon, 12; two sisters, Valerie, 10, and Carmen, 9; maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Glen Bolty, Estherville; paternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Shull, Estherville; maternal great-grandmother, Mrs. Clair Krosch, Blue Earth, Minn.; and paternal great-grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. William Mason, Freemont, Calif.

The Rev. H. Allen Wirtz will officiate at the services. Pallbearers will be Leo Krenn, Ronald Riedemann, Robert Ness, Robert Kaltvedt, Carl Graves, Lane Tostenrud, Eugene Bolty and Clifford Rauhauser. Burial will be at East Side Cemetery.

Friends may call at Reese-Henry Funeral Home of Estherville today and until time of services Wednesday. (Estherville Daily News, Estherville, IA, September 28, 1971)