Van Beek, Gilmer (1935-1958)

VAN BEEK, BOUMA

Posted By: Joanne Schlichte-Volunteer
Date: 8/14/2012 at 15:49:39

Gilmer Van Beek,Fatally Injured When Truck Upsets 16 Others Hurt In Hayride Mishap

Gilmer James Van Beek, 22, son of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Van Beek of 7 1/2 miles northeast of Sioux Center, was fatally injured and 16 other young people were hospitalized with injuries Friday night when a truck they were using for a hayride overturned at a sharp comer on a rural road seven miles south of Inwood.

Van Beek was crushed beneath the truck, equipped with hayrack, when it did a complete roll across a 5-foot ditch.

The injured were treated at Canton and Sioux Falls hospitals. Most received only minor cuts, bruises and fractures as they were tossed into a corn field.

One girl, Marjorie Kiefema, 17, of Inwood, reportedly suffered several serious fractures and remains in a Sioux Falls hospital.

Others injured in the mishap were, from Inwood, Berna Tilstra, 15, Raymond Blom, 15, Gerald Veldman, 16, Anna Mae Fiekema, 16, Marion Brands, 19, Marjorie Faber, 18, Florence Faber, 14, Carolyn Feikema, 20, William Kollos, 16, Corny Kollos, 17, Tony Veldman, 15, Ray Van Land, 16.

Also injured were William Wallenburg, 18, Arnold Van Egen, 21, and Morris Blankespoor, 15, of Inwood. The condition of the latter was described, as “serious".

Dismissed immediately after treatment at the Canton hospital were William Wallenberg, 18, Anton Kampen, 21, driver of the truck, and Wilma Kollos, 16, both of Inwood, and Alberta Van de Street, 17, of Fairview, S. D. Another member of the party was Henrich Kraayenbrink of near Middleburg.

The truck driver told investigating officials that when the truck rounded the curve the young people, all members of the Christian Reformed church of Inwood except three, leaned toward one side of the truck causing it to overturn.

Van Beek Funeral Services

Funeral services for Gilmer Van Beek were held from the First Christian Reformed church in Sioux Center at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, December 31 and burial was made in the Hope cemetery at Hull. Services were conducted by the Rev. B. J. Haan of Sioux Center. Vander Ploeg's Funeral home was in charge of arrangements.

A 1952 graduate of Western Christian High school at Hull, Van Beek, had been released from, military service December 17, after six months of training as a National Guardsman at Ft. Polk, La.

He was born at Sheldon, Ia., May 13, 1935, and. moved with his parents to a farm near Hull, 7 ½ miles northeast of Sioux Center, several years ago. He has been assisting his father with operation of the farm, - the Lou De Boer place - since his graduation from high school.

Survivors besides his parents include two sisters, Myrna Faye and Lois Ilene, both of Sioux Center; his paternal grandfather, Gilbert Van Beek of Rock Valley, Ia., and his maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Bert Bouma of Hull.

Pall bearers were Claude Vander Zwaag, Alvin Hoekstra, Harold Vande Kieft, Dwaine Sandbulte, Cleo Te Slaa and John Vander Werff.

Source: The Sioux Center News