Beck, Jerry Wayne 1939-1958

BECK, DOST, PIERCE

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 10/8/2012 at 00:51:16

The Grinnell (IA) Herald-Register; Aug. 7, 1958

YOUTH DIES IN GRAIN BIN FALL

JERRY BECK
HURT FATALLY
WEDNESDAY

Hired By Trucker To
Help Clean Grain Bin
At DeKalb Corn Plant

Jerry Beck, 19-year-old Grinnell youth died shortly after noon Wednesday at a lcoal hospital of injuries received earlier the same day when he plunged about 15 feet from a ladder inside a grain bin at the DeKalb Seed Corn Plant just east of Grinnell.

SLIPPED ON LADDER

Beck was believed to have landed on his head on the concrete floor of the bin. He was climbing out of the 24 foot high bin when he apparently lost his footing and fell to the floor. A companion said he was only four or five rungs from the top when he slipped.

He had been employed that same morning by Fred Hatfield, Cincinnati, Iowa, trucker to help clean out the bin. The men had been working about one hour and had just finished their task inside the bin. Time of his fall was estimated at 8:45 a.m.

RESCUE BEGUN

Immediately after Beck fell, Hatfield notified plant officials who in turn called rescue workers of the Fire and Police departments. Since the only access to the interior of the bin was from the top, rescuers encountered complicated difficulties in removing Beck. Ropes and stretchers were hauled to the top of the bin and then lowered inside.

Once he was removed from the bin, Beck was carried to the ground down a narrow inside stairway of the main building and placed inside a waiting ambulance and then rushed to a hospital. When removed, he was unconscious.

GHS STUDENT

A student at Grinnell high school, Beck would have been a senior when classes were resumed this fall. He is the son of Ralph Beck, also of Grinnell.

His mother preceded him in death a few months ago.

Funeral services will be held at 3:00 p.m. Saturday from the Smith Funeral Home with the Rev. Leland W. Mann of the Congregational church officiating. Burial will be in Ivy Hill cemetery at Malcom.

Surviving besides his father are four brothers and one sister: Harold Dost, Kenneth Beck, and Mrs. Francis (Ruth) Pierce, all of Grinnell; Robert Beck of Winterset, and Donald Beck with the United States Navy stationed at San Diego, Calif. Also surviving are eight nephews and nieces.