Docter, Benjamin 1864-1946

DOCTER, VANDEWAA

Posted By: Janet Brown - volunteer (email)
Date: 7/21/2013 at 16:53:57

From the Alton Democrat, November 21, 1946:

Orange City Man Killed at Down Town Street Corner

Ben Docter, Early Resident, Struck At Crossing

Death came instantly to Benjamin Docter, early Orange Citv resident when he was struck by a car at a crossing intersection in downtown Orange City late Saturday afternoon, and received a fatal skull fracture.

He was returning to his home from an errand and walking west at the hotel corner when a car from the west driven by Russell Vande Brake made a left turn and, knocked the pedestrian down, After investigating the accident the coroner and the county attorney announced it unavoidable, Mr. Docter having stepped into the path of the car, which was going slowly.

He was 82 years and 6 months of age and was born in Elburg, Netherlands May 22, 1864. At the age of 17 he came to the United Stales with his pioneer parents, arriving at the Henry Vander Waa home. Later he married a daughter of this pioneer family, Jane Vande Waa. The couple farmed for some years but had bad luck, with frequent hail and other damage. They later moved to Texas and Oklahoma, where two of their daughters married, and for 17 years were residents of Le Mars. Some years ago they retired and returned to the home town of their youth.

Surviving are his wife; one son, Arthur Docter of Orange City; and three daughters, Mrs. John Thomassen of Pasadena, Calif., Mrs. Richard Krueger and Mrs. Oswald Jones, both of Oklahoma City; 16 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were held at the home Tuesday at one o'clock and at the Van Etten funeral parlors at 1:30. Rev. Colenbrandor, Rev. Nattress, local pastors, and Rev. Doctor of Hospers, a cousin took part in the services.

Arriving from Oklahoma City Sunday after driving all night were the two daughters, Mrs. Oswald Jones, son Ben and Mr. and Mrs. Oswald Jones Jr., Mrs. Krueger and daughter Lillian. Other relatives present from a distance were Mr. and Mrs. Jno. Docter, Mrs. Henry Doctor, sons Bob and Henry of Firth, Nebr. Mrs. Rev. Engelsman (sister of Mrs. Docter) of Holland, Mich., Mr. and Mrs. Guy Vanden Burg and Ted Vande Steeg of Sioux City; Mr. and Mrs. Lane Vande Steeg of Le Mars: and a large group of Mrs. Arthur Docter's relatives from Minnesota and Nebraska.

Note by poster: The obituary is a little confused on who attended the funeral. Apparently, those from Oklahoma City were daughter Mrs. Oswald Jones and her sons Ben and Oswald, Jr. (and his wife) AND daughter Mrs. Richard Krueger and her daughter Lillian.

Other out-of-town relatives mentioned in the obituary in the Sioux County Capital dated November 21, 1946 were: Mr. and Mrs. V. J. Ruppert, Mr. and Mrs. Hector Pommier, and Mr. and Mrs. A. H. Boudrea, all of Currie, Minnesota; Mr. and Mrs. John J. Ruppert of Tracy, Minnesota; Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Kunkel, Mr. and Mrs. Joe Kunkel, and Mr. and Mrs. Vincent Schnuff, all of Le Mars; Mrs. E. H. Birmingham; Mildred Birmingham; and Marie Bolluyt, all of Sioux City; Mr. and Mrs. John Docter, Mrs. Henry Docter and two sons, Henry and Arthur, of Firth, Nebraska; Mrs. Kate Engelsman of Holland, Michigan; and Mrs. and Mrs. Guy Vanden Berg of Sioux City.