DIED: FRED BOOMGAARDEN, September 24 1934. When Ocke DeBoer accidentally hit a pedestrian, Fred Boomgaarden on the highway about 5 1/2 miles south of Ellsworth it was simply an accident many other auto drivers narrowly escaped many time in years past. Fred was an unfortunate who never attained average mentality and who needed an attendant whenever he appeared on the public highway, but usually appeared alone. Monday forenoon Fred was walking along the north-south highway and a combination of circumstances forced Mr DeBoer to ditch his car in an attempt to avoid hitting the unfortunate, a man in his late thirties. Quick action by Mr DeBoer failed to save the man from injury, even though DeBoer risked his own life to save another. Boomgaarden was hit before Ocke's car was ditched and was rendered unconscious by the impact, as well as having a compound fracture of the leg. He died at the home of his mother, Mrs. Jake Boomgaarden who lives nearby without having regained consciousness. The funeral will be held at the local Zion Presbyterian church on Saturday of this week. Shortly after the accident Mrs. Halvor Arneson and daughters Mrs. Palmer Olson and Mrs. Edwin Wald and the latter' s son, Corky, chanced to come by and were hailed by a group gathered at the accident scene. They brought Mr DeBoer to town, where he summoned our local Doctor, no telephones being available in the vicinity of the accident. As has been stated, deceased was often walking the road between the mailbox on the AYP highway and his home and from there to the George Boomgaarden home south of there. His deficiencies caused many narrow escapes from the same sort of accident on the part of local people. It is therefore safe to say that it was Mr DeBoer's misfortune to figure in the accident that has proven fatal.

Ellsworth News
1934