Logan, Nora Lee 1945-1960
LOGAN, MEAD
Posted By: Mary Holub, volunteer (email)
Date: 3/14/2010 at 15:43:39
From: Le Mars Globe-Post, September 12, 1960
BRUNSVILLE MOTHER AND DAUGHTER KILLED
Mrs. Jim Mead And Nora Lee Were Found Trapped Under The Big Sioux River
In the late afternoon Saturday the bodies of Mrs. Jim Mead, 37 and her 15 year old daughter, Nora Lee Logan of Brunsville were found still in the wreckage of their car in the Big Sioux river near Hawarden. They had been on their way to Sioux Falls to visit the mother of Jim Mead at Sioux Falls and had left Brunsville at about 6 p.m. the family related.
Three automobile tires protruding from the surface of the Big Sioux prompted the search Saturday night for possible victims.
Two small boys - Larry Abbey, son of Mr. and Mrs. Orion Abbey, and Michael Johnson, son of Mrs. Rose Johnson - fishing near the bridge on highway 10, discovered the vehicle and Mrs. Abbey notified the Hawarden police department
Investigating officers were directed to the scene and a boat launched to carry the cable to the virtually submerged station wagon. Two wreckers were used to raise the vehicle, which was overturned in water about six feet deep.
The bodies were taken to the Barnard funeral home at Hawarden where they were identified by Mrs. Mead's husband, James Vernon Mead.
Sheriff Frank Scholer was called for identification as there was no way for those who discovered the bodies to learn of their identity. All effects which they had been carrying were in the water. All windows of the car were broken out. Mr. Scholer eventually located a billfold which carried the name Olive Mead, Brunsville.
Authorities conjectured the mother and daughter may have stopped in a town along the way to shop before proceeding to Sioux Falls.
Residents living near the bridge said they heard a crash about 11 p.m Friday, but could find no evidence of its cause.
According to Police Chief Milo Hartman of Hawarden, authorities believe the station wagon traveled 400 feet from the time it left the road before it hit the surface of the Big Sioux.
Evidence showed, Chief Hartman said, that the vehicle went off the right side of the road, on the Iowa side, just before reaching the bridge. In the course of its travels, it catapulted over a farm driveway, jumped the embankment at the edge of the water, hurtled into the air, striking a tree, and then flew 120 feet through the air before hitting the water upside down. The station wagon was extensively damaged. Chief Hartman reported.
Saturday morning, according to Union county Sheriff Ed Ekren, hub caps were found in the area of the crash.
When the car was raised from the water, one of the doors was open, and at first it was thought that other persons might have been in the ear. That supposition later was discredited.
Officers assisting in the investigation were Chief Hartman; Sioux county Sheriff Harry Dykstra of Orange City; highway patrolmen Roy Vogel of Orange City and Dale Smith of Sheldon; Sheriff Ekren, Patrolmen Duane Larson of Vermillion, S. D.; Don Anderson of Elk Point, S. D.; and coroner A. E Van Etten of Orange City.
Olive Robertina Mead was born September 7, 1923 in Pico, Cal. She was married to James Vernon Mead in April, 1947 in Minnesota, and lived in Plymouth county since 1948.
Survivors include the widower; a son. Charles Logan, 19; two daughters, Emma Lou Mead, 7 and Judy Susan Mead, 2; a step son, James Mead, jr., 17, all of Brunsville; the parents, Mr. and Mrs. Robert R. Leslie of Pico; and a brother, Robert Leslie, jr., of LaMirada, Cal.
Nora Lee was born April 24, 1945 at Pico. Her father, Albert Logan, was killed in action during world war 2. Her paternal; grandmother, Mrs. Emma Mead of Sioux Falls, also, survives.
Lloyd, Schultz and Mr. Mead drove to Omaha on Sunday to bring Mr. and Mrs. Leslie and Robert to Brunsville after they had flown to Omaha from California.
The tragedy struck the town of Brunsville late Saturday after everyone had turned out for the Kiddie Parade that day in Brunsville. The family had resided there a number of years and Mr. Mead is a well known paint contractor.
Nora Lee attended school in Merrill. The above picture of Nora was taken at the time of her recent confirmation.
Mrs. Mead is-shown in the-larger picture.
Tombstone Photo
Plymouth Obituaries maintained by Linda Ziemann.
WebBBS 4.33 Genealogy Modification Package by WebJourneymen