NELSON, Phoebe Loretta (Dumond) 1895-1960

NELSON, DUMOND, REICH, GROTHE

Posted By: Diane M Scott (email)
Date: 10/30/2011 at 14:39:41

Phoebe Loretta (Dumond) Nelson – April 3, 1895 – August 31, 1960

#1

PRESTON VISTORS TAKE WRONG TURN, ONE DIES

Preston, Minn – Taking the wrong turn was a factor in causing the death of a LeRoy, Minn., woman and injury of her daughter Wednesday afternoon at the outskirts of Preston. Their car brakes failed on a long, steep hill.

Mrs. Phoebe Nelson, 65, died in an ambulance about 2:15 p.m. Wednesday of internal hemorrhages and multiple fractures of the right arm, upper right arm, chest, jaw and lower right leg.

Officers said Mrs. Nelson apparently was a passenger in a car driven by her daughter, Mrs. Paul Reich, 43, McIntire, Iowa.

Mrs. Reich who suffered compound fractures of the right leg below the knee, bruises and possible internal injuries, was taken by ambulance to St. Mary’s Hospital, Rochester.

Mrs. Nelson and her daughter turned the wrong way about 1:30 p.m. after receiving directions on getting to the home of Preston relatives, Mr. and Mrs. Ranard Arends.

Their car climbed the long steep Preston South Hill road and evidently reached the top before they discovered their mistake and turned around to come down.

Their brakes failed, officer said, and they reached the bottom of the hill traveling at a speed estimated at 75 to 80 m.p.h.

A cement mixer truck entered the bridge at the bottom of the hill just before the two women’s car. Mrs. Reich turned sharply to go up another hill road, leaving 143 feet of turning marks. The car hit a small bank on the side of the road and flipped into the air, trapping the two women inside. The car had to be lifted by a wrecker before the two women could be removed.

Ward Bergey and Jim Ward, who were working at the Preston Municipal Light Plant, saw the car come down the hill. Firemen were called when gas was seen flowing form the car, but there was no fire. Preston policeman Lee Tienter, Sheriff Neal Haugerud and Deputy Ronnie Turner were called to the scene.

Matz Funeral Home, Leroy is in charge of arrangements.

Winona Daily News, Winona, Minnesota, Thursday September 1, 1960

#2

Minnesota Death Index:

Name: Phoebe Loretta Nelson
Birth Date: 3 Apr 1895
Death Date: 31 Aug 1960
Death County: Fillmore
Mother's Maiden Name: Grothe
State File Number: 004644
Certificate Number: 004644
Certificate Year: 1960
Record Number: 1444173

#3
The daughter mentioned in the above obit was Della Ione (Nelson) Reich, who died in 1986 and is buried in the Wayne, Mitchell Co., Iowa Cemetery. Della married Paul William Reich.