Terpstra, Eugene, 1919-1926

TERPSTRA

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 20:33:38

From the Rock Valley Bee, September 24, 1926:

HEAVIEST RAINFALL IN MANY YEARS FELL FRIDAY

Article about a heavy rainfall that caused the Creamery creek to overflow and resulted in at least four deaths. (All of the other area newspapers also covered the flood.)

S. Terpstra, a jeweler at Hospers, and 8-year-old son, Eugene, drove into the flood at the “Million Dollar Corner” and were both drowned. The boy’s body was found Tuesday a quarter of a mile from where they went down. The body of the father has not yet been found.

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From the Boyden Reporter, September 23, 1926:

HOSPERS JEWELER AND SON STILL LOST

Sip Terpstra, about 40 years old, jeweler at Hospers, and his 8 year old son Eugene, were drowned Friday evening, while they were attempting to drive from Hospers to Sioux Center. Near what is known as the “Million Dollar Corner” the car was being driven over a flooded grade when it went into a wash-out and could not be extricated. As the water rose the father and son mounted the top of their car, from which it is said, they called frantically for help which could not reach them and they were swept away by the torrent. Their bodies had not been recovered at this writing.

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From the Alton Democrat, September 24, 1926:

FIVE LOSE LIVES IN BIG FLOOD WATERS FRIDAY

A set of front-page articles about the massive rainfall and subsequent flood in Sioux County, including:

The body of Eugene Terpstra, 7 year old son of Mr. and Mrs. Sip Terpstra of Hospers, who was drowned with his father near the “million dollar” corner Friday night, was found Tuesday at about noon.

The body was found about a mile below the corner on the west side of the creek by Jake and John Mulder, Henry G. Brink and Nelson De Jong. The body was entirely covered with mud and debris except for one foot and an ear. The remains were taken to Orange City as soon as possible by Coroner W. M. Duven.

Eugene was the only child of Mr. and Mrs. Terpstra. The body of Mr. Terpstra has not been recovered at this writing. He and the boy were on their way to Sioux Center to get Mrs. Terpstra who attended the missionary conference held there that day, having made the trip around by Orange City to get on the graveled highway.

William Den Ouden was also in the party of boys who discovered the body of little Eugene Terpstra. The boys had been burying cattle for the township and when they had finished their job discovered the body entirely by accident in passing the place where it lay.

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The Sioux County Cemetery Index has Terpstra, Eugene, b. 21 Apr 1919, d. 17 Sep 1926, Hospers Cem Hospers IA.