Benola Alvin Fetterhoff (1872-1931)

FETTERHOFF, GEAR, BROOKS, BROWN

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 5/17/2021 at 16:53:13

From Nevada Evening Journal August 3, 1931 (page 1)

NEVADA MAN TOOK OWN LIFE SUNDAY

DEATH CAUSED BY ASPHYXIATION FROM GAS FROM RANGE

Ben A. Fetterhoff, 59, took his own life by asphyxiation at an early hour Sunday morning, at the family home at 46 West Lincoln avenue.

The lifeless body, still warm, was found hovered over the gas stove, the head covered by a heavy army blanket used to confine the deadly fumes from the open burner, by the sister, Miss Pearl Fetterhoff, when she arose and started for the kitchen to get breakfast, about 7:30.

At home at the time were the sister Miss Pearl Fetterhoff and the small son Harold, the elder son B. A. Fetterhoff, Jr., being on his way home from the Boone river, where he had spent the night fishing.

The suicide is ascribed to the weakened condition of Mr. Fetterhoff's mind. He had spent a year at the hospital for the insane at Clarinda, but had been returned home early in the year, just previous to the death of Mrs. Fetterhoff.

At that time his mind seemed to have pretty well cleared up, but during the past few weeks, those who were around him realized that he was suffering a relapse, of his mental trouble.

The funeral services will be held Tuesday, August 4 at 3:00, at Morfoot's Funeral home, after which interment will be in the Nevada cemetery by the side of his wife, who died January 4 of this year.

Mr. Fetterhoff was a son of one of the pioneer families of the Nevada community.

Benola Alvin Fetterhoff was the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob R. Fetterhoff and was born September 20, 1872, four miles south of Nevada where the parents settled in an early day. He died at his home on the morning of August 2nd at the age of 58 years and 11 months. He lived in and around Nevada all his life with the exception of six years spent in Salem, S. D.

He was married March 4, 1897 to Minnie Bernice Gear, who died January 4 of this year. Four children were born to them, but one son, Ira, died during the flu epidemic 1918. In his death he leaves two sons, Alvin and Harold and one daughter, Mrs. Sylvia Brooks of Oto, Iowa and two grandchildren, Louise and Warren Brooks. Besides these he leaves three sister, Miss Peal Fetterhoff of Nevada, Mrs. C. L. Brown of Marshalltown and Mae Fetterhoff of Mason City.

Mr. Fetterhoff was a member of the Modern Woodman of America, Samson lodge No. 77 Knights of Pythias and of the Methodist Episcopal church.