Donna Jean STURGEON

STURGEON, SWANSON

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 7/20/2007 at 19:23:55

Wright County Monitor
20 August 1953

Last Rites Held For Young Girl

Donna Jean Sturgeon, oldest daughter of Gene and Mabel Sturgeon, was born March 22, 1942, at Clarion. She passed away at the Clarion Memorial hospital August 12, 1953, at the age of 11 years, 4 months and 21 days. Her short life was spent on the farm northwest of Dows with her parents, sisters and brother. She attended the Rowan consolidated school and would have entered the seventh grade this fall. She was baptized in the Rowan Methodist church April 29, 1945, attending Sunday school regularly, being devoted to her church.

She is survived by her parents; three sisters, Marilyn, Gloria and Sandra; one brother, Ronald; grandparents. Mr. and Mrs. George Swanson of Dows and Mrs. Florence Sturgeon of Belmond and many aunts, uncles and cousins. The last rites were held Friday afternoon in the Rowan Methodist church with Rev. R. H. Lingard in charge. Pallbearers were: Roy Johnson, Allen Boyington, William Barz, Burneil, Ordean and Wendell Jones. Burial was made in the Fairview cemetery in Dows.

Wright County Monitor
13 August 1953

Dows Girl Dies of Collision Injuries

Donna Sturgeon, 12, critically injured in a collision between a car and a combine southeast of Galt Wednesday evening of last week, died Wednesday morning at the Clarion hospital where she was brought immediately after the accident. It was Wright county's fifth highway fatality of 1953. Complete details of the accident will be found on page 11 of this issue.

Dows Motorists Injured in Crash

DOWS — Donna Sturgeon, 12, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gene Sturgeon, is a patient at the Clarion memorial hospital recovering from injuries suffered in a collision between a car and combine Wednesday evening, Aug. 5, about 2 miles southeast of Galt. Mrs. Sturgeon and Donna had left the farm to go to town when the accident occurred near the R. L. Bunn farmstead, about 5-1/2 miles west and north from Dows. Mrs. Sturgeon and Donna had just topped the hill going south at the Bunn farm when they came upon Fred Mensing driving north with a tractor and combine. In a desperate attempt to slow down, the Sturgeon car was thrown into a skid and the right side of the car collided with the front of the tractor. Mr. Mensing was thrown from the tractor and dazed but was reported to have suffered no serious injury Mrs. Sturgeon received a broken arm and numerous lacerations and bruises and also suffered shock. Donna was on the side of the car receiving the impact and she suffered a skull fracture. She was taken to the Clarion hospital where physicians announced her condition as critical.