Grotenhuis, Larry H. 1948-1952

GROTENHUIS, VANZEE

Posted By: Paul Van Dyke-Volunteer
Date: 7/19/2014 at 00:41:44

Source: Sioux Center News (5-27-1952)

Born: 1948
Died: 1952

HOSPERS BOY KILLED IN FALL FROM FAMILY CAR; FIRST FATALITY OF YEAR

A four year-old Hospers boy became Sioux County’s first traffic fatality of 1952 Tuesday morning when he fell out of the car his mother was driving. He was Larry Harlan Grotenhuis, son of Mr. and Mrs. Harley Grotenhuis.

The boy had had a tonsillectomy last week and his mother was taking him to Orange City for a check-up Tuesday morning when the accident happened. Mrs. Grotenhuis was driving the car and she was accompanied by her mother, Mrs. Van Zee. The youngest of the Grotenhuis children was in the front seat with the grownups and Larry was riding in the back seat of the four-door sedan.

Larry was told to snap the catch on the door, and it is believed that he must have leaned on the handle, causing the door to open. Larry fell out and lit on the shoulder of the road 3 ¼ miles north of Alton on highway 33. He was killed instantly.

Funeral services will be held Friday at the First Reformed Church in Hospers. Arrangements are under the direction of Vander Ploeg’s Funeral Home.