HOLSTAD, Marvin c1921-1949

HOLSTAD, LEIDAL, BUBLITZ, GORDON, SANDERSON, PATTERSON, STUMO

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 1/12/2013 at 19:39:37

AUTO-TRAIN CRASH
TAKES LIVES OF
SIX AT NORTHWOOD

Entire Family Wiped
Out Sunday in Grade
Crossing Accident

All five members of the Marvin Holstad family and a sixth child who lived with them were instantly killed Sunday morning when the Holstad car was struck by a Rock Island passenger train at a grade crossing three miles north of Northwood. The dead are: Marvin Holstad, 27, Mrs. Holstad, 26, Marilyn, 4, Montie Lou, 3, Donovan 1 /1/2, and Diane Leidal, 4.

The family was en-route to attend church services at the Deer Creek Valley church, according to the Rev. Christian Notsund. No explanation of the accident could be found, since there were no eye witnesses to the disaster. A circus caravan had just passed on Highway 65 and officials thought that the motorists may have been distracted for that reason.

The auto was struck in the middle and parts of the wreckage were hurled 1,000 feet by the impact. Bodies of the victims were scattered along the right-of-way.

The Holstad family had planned to attend a family reunion Sunday, in honor of Mrs. Ellen Bublitz of California, who has been visiting relatives and friends in Mitchell and Worth counties. Mrs. Bublitz was in Osage Sunday afternoon, unaware of the accident. She is a former resident of St. Ansgar where Mr. Bublitz operated a grocery store for many years and she managed a dress and hat shop for a time. Mr. Bublitz was drowned several years ago in Clear Lake on the opening day of fishing season.

Funeral services for the six victims of Sunday's accident were held at the Deer Creek Valley Lutheran Church northeast of Northwood Tuesday afternoon.

Holstad is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ben Holstad of near Northwood; seven sisters: Mrs. Roy Gordon, Carpenter, Mrs. Leon Sanderson, Glenville, Mrs. Curtis Leidal and Mrs. Gerhard Stumo, Northwood, Mrs. Jewell Thompson, Myrtle, Mrs. Max Patterson, Lyle, and Mrs. Stanley Hegan, Minneapolis; and two brothers, Irving Holstad, Austin, and Eldon Holstad, Northwood.

Mrs. Holstad is survived by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Maurice Leidal, and two brothers, Wayne and Milford Leidal, all of Northwood.

MITCHELL COUNTY PRESS - 26 MAY 1949