Dykstra, Barney, 1938-1940

DYKSTRA, WIEKAMP

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 4/3/2022 at 20:53:46

From the Sioux Center News, November 14, 1940:

21 Month-Old Boy Dies In Tragic Accident

Barney Dykstra, the 21 month old son of Mr. and Mrs. Nick Dykstra of Rock Valley died of accidental strangulation Friday morning, November 8. The child was sliding between the boards at the front end of a hayrack, when his feet slipped, catching his head between the boards. His little sister Alice, who was playing with him, ran to the house for help, but the mother arrived too late to save him. He leaves to mourn his parents, two brothers and two sisters. Funeral services were postponed from Monday until Tuesday because of the snow storm. The funeral was held at the First Reformed Church of Rock Valley with Rev. Aberson officiating.

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From the Rock Valley Bee, November 15, 1940:

Two-Year-Old Boy Loses Life Playing On Farm Hayrack

Tragedy struck suddenly at the farm home of Mr. and Mrs. Nick E. Dykstra, one mile east and two miles south of Rock Valley, last Friday morning when their little 2-year-old son, Barney, was found hanging with his head caught between the boards of a hay rack.

He had been playing in the hay rack all summer long with the rest of the children, and no thought of danger had occurred to anyone. The little boy was alone at the time of the accident and was found by his 4-year-old sister, Alice, who had been sent out by her mother to find the little fellow and bring him into the house. Her screams that Barney was dead brought the rest of the family. He had strangled and efforts to resuscitate him were fruitless. Allice, although only four, had succeeded in freeing his head from the boards by the time the others arrived on the scene and he was lying on the ground.

Barney was the fourth child in the family of 5 children, the others being Eldon 9, Gerrit 7, Allice 4, and the baby, Theresa, 4 months old.

Funeral services for the little boy were set for Monday but were postponed until Tuesday afternoon because of the condition of the weather Monday. They were conducted by the Rev. H. J. Aberson at 1:30 at the home and at 2:00 o’clock at the First Reformed church here. Burial was at Valley View cemetery

The Bee joins in the heartfelt sympathy for the family in this community in their great loss. The Dykstra family wish to express their own great appreciation of all that neighbors and friends have done, to Rev. Aberson and the church, to Dr. Lock who did all that was humanly possible, and to the business men of the town who have always stood by them in time of need.

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His death certificate (informant Nick E. Dykstra) has Barney Dykstra; resident of rural Sioux County near Rock Valley; born Dec. 13, 1938; parents Nick Dykstra, born in Sioux Center, and Reka Wiekamp, born in Bemis, South Dakota; died at 10 a.m. November 8, 1940; cause, strangulation, accidental. “Child was slidding between the boards at the front end of a hay rack his feet slipped catching his head between the boards.”