Small, Harley "Butch" Loren 1944-1965

CARLSON, HENDRICKS, FRERICHS

Posted By: Doris Hoffman, Volunteer (email)
Date: 1/26/2019 at 14:30:24

Note: His sister Sandy Carlson's obituary refers to him as Butch.

Shock Takes Life of Man, 21

A 21-year-old South Sioux Cityan, Harley L. Small lost his life late Tuesday afternoon when a 40-foot shortwave radio antenna, whipped by wind, crashed into a high voltage line.

A companion Richard Hansen, 22, miraculously escaped serious injury.

Mr. Small died at the scene, apparently immediately.

The two young men were attempting to put the antenna in place beside the trailer home they shared when the wind caused the bottom to jerk free.

Warned by Neighbor

A neighbor, Gerald Beach, who was watching them erect the antenna, shouted, “Drop it” when the top veered toward a nearby high voltage line.

“They didn’t do it, ”Mr. Beach said. HE added, “It was lucky I just had my appendix out the other day, or I would have been helping the put it up.”

There was at least a 20-minute delay between the time of the mishap and the time authorities arrived at the scene, and a jurisdictional problem was the cause.

Calls for Sheriff

The trailer home was located in the New Haven Mobile Trailer Court on W. Ninth Street Road, just west of the city limits.

A witness to the accident ran, to a house about a block away to call the sheriff, but was unable to locate him at Dakota City.

Finally, someone drove to the South Sioux City police station and sounded the alarm.

The accident occurred at 4 p.m., according to Mr. Beach. Police arrived at about 4:20 p.m.

A driver for Traum Ambulance Service said he was unable to get any response from Mr. Small at the scene or in the ambulance, and presumed that he died immediately. There was no doctor at the scene.

Mr. Hansen was taken to St. Vincent Hospital by the Jack Becker Ambulance Service. He was reported in “good” condition Tuesday night.

Police Chief F. E. (Pete) Baumer and Assistant Chief Conrad Lindquist conducted an investigation at the scene.

Employed in Sioux City

Both Mr. Small and Mr. Hansen worked at Johnson Biscuit Co. in Sioux City.

Mr. Hansen is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Rager.

Funeral services for Mr. Small will be at 2 p.m. Friday at the Wesley Methodist Church in Sioux City. The Rev. Dwight Webster will officiate and burial will be in the Riverside Cemetery at Akron, Iowa, under the direction of the Anderson Funeral Home.

He was born June 15, 1944, at Akron, Iowa. He came to Sioux City with his parents in 1958, and was graduated from Leeds High School in 1963.

He was a member of Wesley Methodist Church and the Bakers Union.

Survivors include the parents, Mr. and Mrs. Harley E. Small, three brothers, Charles, David, and Kerry, a sister, Mrs. Sandra Carlson, and paternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Harley D. Small, all of Sioux City; maternal grandmother, Mrs. Charles Hendricks of Chatsworth, Iowa; and great-grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Frerichs of Akron.

The body was taken to the Anderson Funeral Home.

AKRON YOUTH KILLED

Harley L. Small Is Victim Of A Tragic Accident Tuesday

Relatives and friends here were shocked at the news of the accidental death of Harley L. Small, 21, of South Sioux City, Nebr., by electrocution while erecting a radio antenna at his trailer home late Tuesday afternoon of this week.

Harley and a friend, Richard Hansen, 22, were attempting to put the antenna in place when the wind caused the bottom to jerk free and the support pole crashed into a high voltage line, killing the young man instantly. His companion was miraculously unhurt.

Harley was born in Akron on June 15, 1944, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Harley E. Small and the grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Harley D. Small, all former Akron residents. His maternal grandmother is Mrs. Charles Hendricks, of Chatsworth, and his great-grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. Henry Frerichs, of Akron.

The body was taken to the Anderson Funeral Home, in Sioux City, where funeral arrangements are pending.

The community joins in extending heartfelt sympathy to all of the relatives of the young man in their sudden and tragic bereavement.

Akron Register Tribune
Thursday, November 25, 1965
Akron, Iowa