William Hopper Wasem (1868-1939)

BERTOLERO, THEBIAY, WASEM

Posted By: Eileen Reed
Date: 2/10/2024 at 13:06:43

William Hopper Wasem, founder and president of the Harrisburg, S. D., State bank, died at 9:30 p. m. Friday at his home in Harrisburg. Death, caused by a heart attack, came rather suddenly although he had been ailing for two weeks. He was 71 years old.

Mr. Wasem came to Harrisburg 40 years ago after farming in Iowa for several years. He organized the bank on his arrival and has continued to head that institution since that time.

Born June 24, 1871 [1868], in Eagle Grove, la., he was the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Wasem. Prior to his marriage to Mary A. Thebiay which took place at Eagle Grove on January 8, 1893, he operated a store at that place and after his marriage farmed for eight years.

He was graduated from the high school at Eagle Grove and later attended what was then known as Humboldt college, Humboldt, la. He was a Mason.

Funeral services will be held from the residence in Harrisburg at 2 o'clock Monday afternoon. The Harrisburg bank will be closed all day Monday as a mark of respect to its founder. The family has requested that no floral offerings be made. The Miller funeral home is directing arrangements.

Besides his widow, Mr. Wasem leaves one daughter, Mrs. John Bertolero, Lead, S. D., and a granddaughter, Mary Bertolero. Out of a family of 13 children, of which he was the youngest, there are one brother, John Wasem, Denver, Colo., and one sister, Mrs, Walter Baker, living In Wisconsin.

The Angus-Leader --- Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Saturday, December 16, 1939