Klein, Alden, 1919-1935

KLEIN, DEGRAAF

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 20:33:35

From the Sioux Center News, August 22, 1935:

Alden Klein, 16, Loses Left Arm in Accident

Saturday night after the wind storm, Alden Klein, 16 year old son of Albert Klein, farmer living south east of Hospers, was driving to Sheldon with two young friends in his father’s car. Three miles south of Sheldon, blinded by the one good light of a truck, Alden misjudged the left side of the truck and drove too close in. He had his left elbow leaning on the door in the easy position familiar to car drivers, and the truck caught his arm and tore it apart, sending the car into the ditch.

The truck was from Ashton, and was occupied by the 68 year old owner and his son who was driving. The trucker tied up the mangled arm with a handkerchief to stop bleeding, and rushed the boy to the Sheldon hospital. The arm was so badly broken and torn that it was immediately taken off about three inches below the shoulder. Weak from loss of blood and shock, the boy is still in the hospital. Doctors are watching the case carefully to prevent possible infection.

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From the Hawarden Independent, August 29, 1935:

Hospers Boy Fatally Injured

Alden Klein, aged 15, of Hospers, was fatally injured the night of Aug. 17th in an auto-truck crash near Sheldon. In the car with Klein were Harry and Gregory Bissanmus of Granville and Klein was driving. It is reported that Klein became confused when he met the truck driven by Tony Honkomp of Ashton and his car crashed into the rear of the truck and then careened wildly into the ditch. Klein had his left arm resting on the window and obviously it was caught against the truck, nearly dismembering the arm.

Honkomp rushed Klein to a hospital in Sheldon where it was found necessary to amputate the arm just below the shoulder. Klein passed away the morning of Aug. 21st, his death being caused from the shock. Klein is survived by his father, two sisters and two brothers. Honkomp maintained that he was on the right side of the road at the time of the collision and officers who investigated after the accident also stated that from all appearances the trucker was on his side of the road.

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From the Sioux Center News, August 29, 1935:

Hospers Boy Died After Crash From Loss of Blood

Alden Klein, 16, son of Albert Klein of Hospers, died early Wed., Aug. 21, from loss of blood after the fatal auto-truck crash the Saturday evening before. His left arm was shattered when he ran into the rear-end of a truck rack a few miles south of Sheldon. The arm was amputated in a Sheldon hospital the evening of the accident, but the loss of blood and shock were too much.

Funeral services were held Friday Aug. 23, at the First Ref. Church at Hospers. He is survived by his father, two sisters, Hattie and Jennie, two brothers, William and Frank.

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His death certificate gives his full name as Alden Eldridge Klein, resident of Baker Township, O’Brien County; a farmer; born November 27, 1919 at Hospers; parents Albert Klein, born in the Netherlands, and Ida De Graaf, born at Newkirk, Iowa; died in the Good Samaritan Hospital, Sheldon, at 12:25 a.m. August 21, 1935; cause, mangled left arm, Aug 17, amputated Aug. 18, and coronary embolism, Aug. 21; buried at Hospers.

The Sioux County Cemetery Index has him as Alden A. Klein, as does his FindaGrave page, with a photo of his headstone. FindaGrave gives his full name as Alden Aldrich Klein.