Mary Thilges Reding 1881-1959

REDING, THILGES, WAGNER, BESCH

Posted By: Geo Clinton (email)
Date: 8/7/2012 at 11:55:16

March 31, 1959 - Kossuth County Advance - Two elderly sisters, on their way to a midnight Easter Catholic mass, were killed almost instantly about 10:15 p.m. Saturday night when they were struck by a car as they crossed highway 169 in the community of St. Joe. ...

The two sisters, both well known in this area and lifelong residents of this county, had left the home of Mrs Reding to attend a midnight mass at the St. Joseph Catholic church. The church is located almost directly across the highway from Mrs Reding's home. As they crossed the highway, the car driven by Bleasdell struck them in the left lane. He was traveling south coming from Algona and going to Fort Dodge.

Sheriff Ralph Lindhorst, who helped in the investigation, said the bodies of the two sisters were dragged over 100 feet by the moving car. Both are believed to have died almost instantly of fractured necks and multiple other injuries...

Mrs Reding was born April 13, 1881, at St. Joe, the daughter of Nicholas and Margaret Thilges. She was married to James Reding on Jan. 6, 1903, at St. Joe. Her husband preceded her in death in 1953.

Surviving children are Elvina, Mrs Orville Wagner, Bode; Alfred Reding, Bode; Alice, Mrs Ed Besch, Whittemore; and Ralph Reding, Ottosen. Brothers Casper Thilges, Algona, and Rodney Thilges, Tracy, Minn., also survive. There are 15 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. Serving as pallbearers will be Joel Reding, Gerald Reding, Donald Besch, Henry Thilges, Mark Thilges and Frank Thilges. She was a longtime member of the Catholic Daughters of America.