Boffeli, LeVern 1909-1926

BOFFELI, ARLEN

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, volunteer (email)
Date: 4/30/2020 at 14:29:20

LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel
Tuesday, July 13, 1926

BOY MEETS TRAGIC FATE
Le Vern Boffeli, Aged 17, Killed When Thrown from His Horse
AUTO CAUSES ACCIDENT
Animal and Rider Presumably Struck by Car.

LeVern Boffeli, aged 17, a young farm hand met almost instant death Saturday evening when a horse he was riding was struck by an automobile and Boffeli was thrown several feet into a ditch, sustaining injuries from which he died within an hour.

Boffeli, who was employed at the John Theisen farm in Washington township, was riding home from Brunsville where he had been on an errand. The accident took place on the road between Brunsville and the Mrs. Mary Bruns farm residence. The car which occasioned the accident was driven by L. H. Henry, a banker of Sioux City, who was driving west toward the Perry Creek road.

Otto Marienau and family and Ben Marienau were returning to their home west of Brunsville and were at the scene of the accident a few seconds after it happened. The Sioux City car had just passed them going at a good rate of speed when they heard the crash and on coming up found the Sioux City car in the ditch on the left hand side of the road. The horse was standing in the road and the body of the boy was found about fifteen feet away. He was unconscious but still breathing. He was brought to the Community hospital by R. C. Pease, of Pierson, who is acting as relief agent at the depot in Brunsville and Dr. W. L. Downing was summoned.

Succumbs to Injuries.
Death was due to laceration of a lung, according to diagnosis of the physician who was called to the case. His chest was crushed and his collar bone broken. There were marks on the left foreleg and left should of the horse indicating both the youth and the animal had been struck by the car.

Residents of Brunsville, who visited the scene of the accident, stated that the foot prints of the horse was on his die of the road and was loping along about two feet from the edge of the grade. A woman passenger in the Henry car was slightly injured by broken glass.

To Hold Inquest.
Sheriff Maxwell and deputies went out to the scene of the accident Saturday night and Coroner L. E. Mauer went out to make an investigation.

A jury was empanelled consisting of H. L. Dambrink, C. A. Mauer and John Featherston and they went out to view the place where the fatality occurred. The inquest will be held today when a number of witnesses will be called to tell just what they know about the tragedy.

Body Taken Home.
John Boffeli, of Farley, father of the boy, arrived in LeMars Sunday and yesterday morning took the body back with him. The funeral will be held this morning at St. Joseph’s church in Farley. The boy was the oldest of a family of nine children and is survived by his parents, four brothers, Merlin, William, Allen and Eldon and four sisters, Katherine, Celia, Marrellto and Pearl.

The boy had worked for Mr. and Mrs. John Theisen when they lived on a farm near Farley for some years, in his school vacations, and when they came recently to Plymouth county he accompanied them. They regarded him as one of themselves and say he was a most faithful and efficient worker. Nearly all his earnings he gave to his parents and dependable in every way.

Mr. and Mrs. Thiesen had started on a trip to Emery, S.D., leaving Mrs. Ruden, the mother of Mrs. Theisen, and LeVerne in charge of the farm, at the time of the tragedy. They returned immediately on receipt of the sad news.

The boy hardly ever left the farm except in company of members of the Theisen family. On Saturday evening he went to Brunsville to get some meat for the Sunday meals.
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Dryersville Commercial, July 12, 1926

LAVERNE BOFFELI RETURNING HOME ON HORSE BACK, BRUNSVILLE, IA., HIT BY AUTOMOBILE

DIED FROM INJURIES WHILE BEING RUSHED TO HOSPITAL AT LEMARS--REMAINS BROUGHT TO FARLEY FOR BURIAL

Mr. and Mrs. Peter Boffeli, residing three miles south of here received word of the death of their son, Laverne was returning home on horseback, when an automobile hit him and he was so badly injured that he passed away shortly afterwards. He was working for John Theisen, who moved from here to LeMars the first of March, and with whom he had gone out there. Mr. Boffeli left on the first train Sunday morning and returned with the body Monday afternoon.

Laverne was born at Bankston, Jan. 26, 1909. He attended St. Joseph's parochial school here and was thought much of by pupil and teachers alike. He had always lived here until he accompanied Mr. Theisen to LeMars.

He is survived by his parents, five brothers Merlin, Wilmer, Allen, Carl and Eldon, four sisters, Cecilia, Mathilda, Delia and Katherine and his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. George Arlen.

The sudden death of Laverne comes as a shock to his parents and sisters and brothers, and to his many friends. He was a companionable young fellow, popular among his many friends and his untimely death is greatly regretted. Sympathy is extended the bereaved family.

FUNERAL AT FARLEY
Funeral services were held Tuesday morning at 9:30 a.m. at St. Joseph's Roman Catholic church, Rev. P J. Coffey sang requiem mass and officiated at the graveside. The casket bearers were six school mates of the deceased and are as follows; James O'Meara, Raymond Kelchen, Marion Jarding, Hugh Greenwood, John O'Meara and J. T, McKeever. Interment was made in St. Joseph's cemetery.

Relatives and friends from away who attended the funeral were Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Gansen, Mr. and Mrs. Nic Gansen, Mrs. Frances Gansen, of Elma, Nic Ruden of Remsen, Iowa and Mr. and Mrs. John Theisen of LeMars, Iowa.
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