Iowa Old Press

Akron Register Tribune
Thursday, December 4, 1941

LESTER H. RAUCH INSTANTLY KILLED IN AUTO ACCIDENT
Mrs. Rausch Critically Injured In Crash Early Saturday Morning

Lester H. Rausch, a well known resident of Akron, was instantly killed and his wife was seriously injured in an auto accident between 5 and 6 o’clock Saturday morning at the junction of the Riversioux road and Highway No. 77, about ten miles southwest of here, in Union county, S. D. They had started in the Dalton Implement Co.’s pickup truck for Meek, Nebr., to attend the funeral of Mr. Rausch’s uncle, Harry Fox, intending to ride there from Verdel, Nebr., with their cousins, Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Peck, former Akron residents.

It was very foggy early Saturday morning and Mr. Rausch evidently misjudged the distance to the turn at the Peterson corner, as the visibility was poor. Before either Mr. or Mrs. Rausch realized what was happening, their car shot across the paved No. 77, leaped the 15-foot ditch and crushed into the opposite bank. The truck did not tip over, but rolled on for about 150 feet to the west before it came to a stop. Andrew Peterson, who lives in a farm house at the junction of the two roads, heard the crash and hastened to the scene. Finding that Mr. Rausch had been killed and that his wife was seriously injured, he returned to his home and telephoned to Elk Point for the county coroner, Dr. H. F. Bright, Sheriff Edward Ekren and an ambulance. Coroner Bright determined that Mr. Rausch had died instantly from a broken neck and fractured skull.

Mrs. Rausch was brought to the Akron Hospital, where it was found that she had sustained a skull fracture, a fracture of the right leg below the knee and numerous cuts and bruises. Her condition was critical for several days, but now she is somewhat improved, with an excellent chance for ultimate recovery. The fatal accident came as a great shock to the many friends of the young couple.

Lester H. Rausch was born near Alcester, S. D., August 9, 1915, and died at the age of 26 years, 3 months, and 20 days. With the exception of four years that he lived in Illinois, one year in Nebraska and several months in Minnesota, his life was spent in and around Akron. He attended the Akron High school and was very active and proficient in football. He completed his High school course here and graduated in the year 1933.

The next fall he enrolled at Morningside College, Sioux City and completed one semester there. On June 22, 1933, he was baptized and took up a membership in the Christian church. On September 16, 1935, he was united in marriage with Miss Garnet Mann, of Akron, at Elk Point, S. D., and to this union two children were born—a daughter and a son.

In 1938 and 1939, Mr. Rausch operated a Standard Oil service station here and the past two years he has been employed by the Dalton Implement Co. He was a faithful and dependable worker for his firm, who will find it difficult to replace him.

Mr. Rausch is survived by his wife and daughter, Barbara Jean, aged 5 years, and son, John Rausch,, of Marengo, Ill.; two brothers, James Rausch, of St. Paul, Minn., and Ralph Rausch, of Burns, Ore.; two sisters, Mrs. William Hubby and Virginia Rausch of Archer, Nebr.; his grandmother, Mrs. Rachel Rausch, of Dundee, Ill., and many other relative and a host of friends, all of whom mourn the early and untimely departure of this estimable young man, whose sterling qualities won him high regard of the entire community. His wife, children and other relatives have the deep sympathy of all.

Funeral services were held Monday afternoon in the Christian church, conducted by the pastor, Rev. W. J. Zane. There was a large attendance at the services. Hymns were sung by a trio. Interment was in Riverside cemetery. As a mark of respect, the local business house closed during the funeral services.

Relatives and friends from a distance who attended the funeral were John Rausch, of Marengo, Ill.; Ralph Rausch, of Burns, Ore.; Virginia Rausch and Mr. and Mrs. William Hubby, of Archer, Nebr.; Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Hall, Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Hall, Mr. and Mrs. Hardy Hall, Mr. and Mrs. Harold Scott, all of Sioux Falls, S. D.; Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Ruble, of Winona, Minn.; Mrs. Harry Fox, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Fox and family and Mr. Edward Kaezor, of O’Neill, Nebr.; Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Peck and Joyce and Viola Peck of Verdel, Nebr.; Mr. and Mrs. Quay Jones and family, of Des Moines, Iowa; Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Jones and family, Mr. and Mrs. Stewart Jones and family, of Hinton, Iowa; Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Simonson, Mrs. Harry DeBoldt and Mrs. William Recoff, of Cherokee, Iowa; Albert Drew, of New London, Iowa; Mr. and Mrs. :Preston Jones, of O’Neill, Nebr.

LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel
December 9, 1941

SEVERAL MEN FROM THIS COUNTY IN WAR ZONE
Families Watching News Reports For Information

A number of Plymouth County people are reading the war news with special interest that last few days because they have sons or other relatives in the Pacific war zone.

Robert Johns, son of Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Johns of LeMars, is on a United States troop ship somewhere between Honolulu and the Philippines and his parents are following the news reports closely for any mention of the ship on which his outfit sailed. Their last word from him was a letter mailed at Honolulu eight days ago in which he said they were sailing from Honolulu and he is probably now in the center of the ocean between the Hawaiian and Philippine Islands.

Willard Stearns, son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Stearns, now of Des Moines, spent a year or two with the Marines in Shanghai, who were evacuated before Japan’s attack, probably to Manila.

Loren Rickabaugh, son of Mr. and Mrs. C. Rickabaugh of LeMars, is engaged in defense work on Palmyra Island about 900 miles south of Honolulu on the route to Australia.

Glenn H. Juhl is in the Navy and his last address reported to this office was U.S.S. Helena care of postmaster at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. That might mean he was anywhere with the Pacific fleet.

Bob Kelly, son of Mr. and Mrs. Orrin Kelly, is in the supply department of army aviation and was in Manila, Philippine Islands, until recently when he wrote his parents he had been ordered to another field about 900 miles south of Manila. He has been in the army two or three years and trained on the Pacific coast.

A number of other Plymouth County boys who enlisted or were called for selective service training were assigned to duty on the West coast and it is probable some of them are now in the Philippines, Hawaii or other islands now in the Pacific war zone.

LeMars Globe-Post
December 11, 1941

BOB KELLY SAFE; BOB BELLAIRE MAY BE INTERNED BY JAPANESE
Mrs. H. D. McKown Misses Son She Was To Meet

Stories of personal heartbreak and of relief from word are coming out of the war situation. Among those who are breathing easier are Mr. and Mrs. O. M. Kelly, who son, Bob Kelly, was last reported to be in Clark Field, near Manila, P.I.

Naturally, they supposed he had undergone the air raid by the Japanese, which caused heavy causalities at the airport. The next day, however, they received a letter, mailed December 3, which stated that Bob was sailing on a transport for the island of Mindanao, 900 miles to the south.

Mindanao is a large island, very strongly fortified, and there has been little if any Japanese action there, so there is good reason to suppose that young Kelly has so far seen no action.

The letter stated that a new airfield is being established on a large plantation, where the pineapples came from, and while the Japanese doubtless will get around to air fighting there sooner or later, they have their hands full elsewhere at present.

BELLAIRE TELEPHONED WIFE

Robert Bellaire, United Press representative in Japan, who saw the war burst into action under his very nose, is still supposed to be in Tokyo, but when last heard from was in good health and not very worried.

His father, Louis Bellaire, formerly of LeMars and now owner of a furniture store in Sioux City, revealed that Robert had telephoned from Tokyo to his wife, now living in Florida, stating that he was all right “and expect to be quite comfortable in the near future no matter what turns up.”

The guarded language used by young Bellaire, and the tone of the press dispatches he had sent out before the war started, revealed that he had a pretty good idea of what was going to happen. But he doubtless had a censor standing at his elbow as he telephoned, who would have instantly cut off any attempt to give any sort of warning. Therefore he tried to indirectly reassure his wife in view of the news that he knew she would soon learn.

Mrs. Anna Bellaire of LeMars, the correspondent’s grandmother, told The Globe-Post today that it is possible that he may have escaped from Japan, as he had informed members of the family that he would soon leave with a group of American officials, some time before the war started. Thus, it is possible that he may have escaped to the Philippines or to one of the British colonies.

In case he is still in Japan, he will be interned, but due to the semi-diplomatic treatment usually accorded newspapermen, he will be more comfortable than the average American who is marooned in Japan.

SECRECY ORDERS GIVEN

An indication of the swiftness with which the United States is now acting, under orders of President Roosevelt, commander-in-chief of the army and navy, came from Mrs. H. D. McKown, who is now at Norfolk, Va., where she had gone to visit her son, George McKown, in the United States Navy.

Mrs. Mckown had arranged by mail to meet her son, but while she was on the way to Norfolk, the war broke, and upon her arrival at the naval station she was unable to see her son, due to wartime regulations. She die not know, according to information received by Mr. McKown, whether the boy had been sent somewhere else, or whether he might still be at Norfolk. She is staying there for awhile in the hope that the restrictions will be lifted.

H. H. McKown, of LeMars, has a son, Harry, a member of the coast guard, who is located at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and he is anxiously awaiting word from him. The coast guard was recently merged with the Navy, by order of President Roosevelt, and Mr. McKown expects to receive news through Navy channels.

KEIHN HAD FINISHED TERM

Another LeMars family which is anxiously awaiting word of a son are Mr. and Mrs. Ed Keihn, whose son, Le Roy Keihn, was stationed at Pearl Harbor on board the Tennessee, according to the last letter received from him. This battleship has been mentioned in unofficial dispatches as under attack, but the government at present made no official announcement as to exactly what happened.

Young Keihn had completed his 4-year term in the Navy and expected to come home soon for a visit. For the past two years he has been serving as a second-class boatswain on the Tennessee. Russell Bainter, son of Mr. and Mrs. T. Bainter, has also been stationed on the U.S.S. Tennessee.

TOM BOYLE SAFE.

Mr. and Mrs. P. J. Boyle have received word from their son, Tom Boyle, that he is now on board the U.S.S. Stringham. At the time the letter was written they were in Charleston, N.C., thought they are probably on the way to an unannounced destination by now, as they expected to leave the next day. This news sets at rest the previous belief that young Boyle was on the Arizona in Pearl Harbor during the Jap attack.

LeMars Globe-Post
December 22, 1941

SENEY: (By Special Correspondent)

The young folks met in the home of Mrs. Elizabeth Hawkins Thursday evening to practice singing for the Christmas program.

Mrs. Lucinda Cooper of Elgin, Neb., and daughter, Mrs. Blanche Wilson of Ferndale, Calif., are visiting in the home of their son and brother, Orville Cooper, and other relatives.

The Christmas program given in the community hall Tuesday evening by the teacher, Miss Martha Janssen and pupils of the rural school Dist. No. 4 was largely attended. Lunch was served at the close of the program.

Roy McArthur, an employee of the Booth & Olson Construction Co., returned to his home here Friday after completing the construction work for the year.

Mr. and Mrs. W. I. Jeffers, Mr. and Mrs. Clinton Jeffers and Geo. Hughes, left Monday morning for their homes in Haxtun, Colo.

Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Becker spent Wednesday evening and Thursday with relatives in Sioux City.

Mr. and Mrs. Adrian Penning are the parents of a daughter born Monday, Dec. 15.

Mr. and Mrs. Marshall Rees were Sioux City visitors Tuesday.

Mrs. Lucinda Cooper and Mrs. Blanche Wilson were Sunday guests in the home of Mrs. Elizabeth Hawkins.

Mrs. A. Jeffers entertained the following guests at dinner in her home Sunday, her son and wife, Mr. and Mrs. W. I. Jeffers, Mr. and Mrs. Clinton Jeffers of Haxtun, Colo., Mr. and Mrs. Chris Henricksen, Mr. and Mrs. George Ahrens and son Danny of Alton, Mr. and Mrs. Max Herman of Carroll.

LeMars Sentinel, December 30, 1941

KINGSLEY: (From the News-Times)

John Steffen of Halliday, N.D., came Saturday for a visit in the Vincent Murray home.

Jack Mathers came from Fort Riley, Kansas, to visit over Christmas with his parents.

Mrs. Chas. Irons, of Halliday, N.D., came last week for a visit with relatives and friends in Kingsley.

Ed. Washer and Miss Mabelle Christensen of Sibley were visitors in the F. M. Beardsley home Sunday.

Miss Lucille Werder come home from St. Mary’s hospital in Rochester, Minn., for a three weeks vacation.

Mrs. Chas. VanBuskirk of Storm Lake is visiting here over the holidays with her mother, Mrs. Ida Rathbun.

Dick Mills of Sioux City is visiting in the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Warren Mills, while recovering from an appendicitis operation.

Wyman Sharp of Camp Claiborne, La., arrived home Tuesday to spend the holidays in the home of his parents.

Mr. and Mrs. Jay Mills of Sioux City have recently moved to California where Mr. Mills is employed in the shipyards.

Relatives have received a message from Jack Graham in the navy stating he is getting along splendidly. The message was mailed at sea, location and name of the ship were not disclosed.

Mr. and Mrs. R. E. Hess left Friday for Grinnell, Iowa, where they will meet their son Dean, and go from there to spend Christmas with their son, R. A. Hess, who is in the army stationed in Alabama.

Lieut. and Mrs. A. J. Anderson visited with friends in Kingsley. Lieut. Anderson has been stationed for the past six months at Savannah, Georgia. Mrs. Anderson has been making her home in Cherokee.

Mr. and Mrs. George Bolton celebrated their Silver wedding anniversary Sunday when 34 relatives gathered at their home to celebrate the event with a potluck dinner at noon. During the afternoon, Mr. and Mrs. Bolton were presented with a beautiful gift.

Rev. and Mrs. H. J. Soltau of Minneapolis announce the marriage during the holiday season of their daughter, Shirley Mae to Oliver A. Mogck, Kingsley band director. The bride is a senior at the University of Minnesota school of music and will finish her work there.

STRUBLE: (Special Correspondence)

A card party was held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Becker Tuesday evening.

Mr. and Mrs. Ben Nicholson visited at the home of Mrs. Ella DeMotz in Sioux Center, Friday.

Mrs. Michael Bishop and small daughter spent the4 past week at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Landgraff.

Mr. and Mrs. Joe Osborne and children, Joan and Ronald, of Merrill, were visitors at the Paul Trigg home Thursday.

Rose, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Dick Jahn, visited at her parents Wednesday and Thursday. She is living in Waverly, Iowa, at present.

Miss Bobbie Moritz came home Friday to spend Christmas with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Moritz. She is attending college at Wayne, Neb.