Fletcher, Thomas Edward 1869-1943

FLETCHER, KING

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, volunteer (email)
Date: 1/7/2011 at 13:26:55

T. E. Fletcher Drowned Aug. 1
Was Fishing In Missouri River

A Burke, South Dakota, paper gives the following details of the drowning of T. E. Fletcher reported in the Sentinel last week.

“T. E. Fletcher, 73, well known resident of Burke and community for many years, drowned Sunday morning about 10:30 while on a fishing trip to the Missouri river on the old Bradshaw ranch with E. J. Stinton and Walter Olson.

Mr. Fletcher had waded and swam out into the river looking at his fishing equipment and places to set more lines and traps. When about 100 feet from the shore, he stepped into a hole about 15 feet deep caused by a whirlpool and was pulled under the water. When he came to the surface, he called to those on shore that he did not believe he could make shore, and was again drawn under the water. Those on shore had no chance to aid him as he failed to come to the surface again.

The alarm was given and Geo. Bradshaw and Game Warden Tony Engelbert brought a boat from Snake creek to aid in the search for his body. Sheriff Virgil Chambers and Engelbert dragged the river using lines with large catfish hooks with weights attached, and the first time over the spot where Mr. Fletcher disappeared, the hooks caught in his clothing and the body was brought to the surface and then to Burke.”

The following obituary notice is furnished the Sentinel by Mrs. Ida Morehead of LeMars:

Thomas Edward Fletcher was the son of John and Susan Fletcher, and was born near Morrison, Illinois, November 14, 1869, and was drowned, August 1, 1943. When a young man he came to Plymouth County, Iowa, was married to Miss Ruth King of near Adaville, April 25, 1889. They celebrated their golden wedding in Lucas, S.D., April 25, 1939, with a large number of their relatives in attendance. They moved to Burke, S.D., in 1907. Then children were born to this union, six boys and four girls: Raymond of Sioux City, Iowa; Mrs. R. J. Norman, of Lucas, S.D.; Carol of Hillsboro, Oregon; Clarence of Graceville, Minn.; Mrs. Bryan Hughes of Hillsboro, Oregon; Mrs. Wm. Munson, of Rapid City, S.D.; Dwight of Hillsboro, Oregon; Mrs. Benton Engle of Wheaton, Minn.; and Gordon of Millbrae, Calif. All the children were in attendance at the services, with the exception of Raymond of Sioux City and Floyd of Hillsboro, Oregon, who were unable to come on account of illness and Gordon on account of tied up transportation service.

Mr. Fletcher is survived by his wife, Ruth, their ten children, two brothers, Fred and Walter, and one sister, Ida Morehead, 2 half brothers, Will of Kennebec and Earl of Sioux City, 29 grandchildren, 4 great grandchildren, besides many other relatives and a host of friends. He was preceded in death by his father and mother, 2 brothers and one sister. Mr. Fletcher met his death in a whirlpool in the Missouri river about 14 miles north of Lucas, Sunday noon, while fishing with his friend E. J. Stinton, Gordon Olson, a youth from Sioux City, was also with them. The body was recovered three hours later by a group of 50 men who had quickly arrived on the scene after hearing of the accident.

The Funeral services were held at 2:30 Thursday, August 5, at the Union Baptist Church in Burke, S.D., conducted by Rev. Robert Wegner, and he was laid to rest in the cemetery at Burke.

Relatives besides the children and their families who came for the funeral were: Mr. and Mrs. Fred Fletcher and son, Roy Fletcher, Mr. and Mrs. Molton, Mrs. Art Peterson, Mr. and Mrs. Tagtow, of Reliance, S.D., Mrs. Ida Morehead, of LeMars, W. J. Fletcher of Clinton, Minnesota, Mr. and Mrs. Will Fletcher, of Kennebec, S.D., Mrs. Bessie Labahn, Betty Lou and Mary Jane, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Johnson of Merrill, and Bryan Hughes of Hillsboro, Oregon. Mr. Fletcher had followed his trade of blacksmith the greater part of his life, having had a shop at Adaville before moving to Burke, and had led an active life up to the time of his death. His greatest recreation was hunting and fishing and he was always happy with his friends on the water. He had been an accomplished swimmer all his life. He was a kind and affectionate husband and father and a friend of everyone who knew him.

~Source: The LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel, Aug. 10, 1943