Fallon County Times
Baker, Montana
July 5, 1934

A very grievous tragedy occurred this week in Baker. Alvin Beckman oldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Alec Beckman, who live just northwest of town, was fatally injured when the car he was driving was struck by a Milwaukee passenger train at the main street crossing in Baker Saturday afternoon 4 o'clock. Beckman, alone in the car at the time of the crash, was rushed to a hospital where he dies two hours later. Apparently he did not notice the crossing signal until it was too late to stop the machine, which was over half way across the tracks when the train stuck it.

He was hurled through the top of the car and a distance into the air. The car was a complete wreck. Eyewitness's report that is was instantly crashed to pieces and parts scatted all around. The youth who had brought his mother and several other members to town and left them at the church just fifteen minutes before the accident occurred, had driven across the track to a service station and was on his way back up town. It is reported that a car was waiting on the north side of the crossing for the train to go by and young Beckman pulled around it and drove right to his death. Just why the tragedy happen will never be known. The victim was a recent graduate of Baker High school, a brilliant student possessing all the fine traits of character parents and friends could desire. The entire community was horror stricken over the accident and feels the deepest sympathy for the heartsick and grief-stricken family, the morose because death came in the guise it did. Funeral services were held Monday forenoon from the South church with the Rev. A. Nelson, Lutheran minister, in charge. A quartet composed of Mrs. Nelson, Mrs. Hoffer, D.R. Young and Harold Olson, sang "One Sweetly Solemn Thot" and "Nearer My God To Thee". The pallbearers were selected from the departed's fellow graduates and included: John Dougherty, Kirk Hills, Lloyd Harris, Francis LaCross, Austin Munday and Clinton Olson. Many flowers were laid in loving remembrance on the casket and interment was made at Bonnievale cemetery. Alvin Beckman, the oldest of eight children was born September 24, 1915. This death was the first break in the family circle.