Fast, John (Mrs.) (1898-1929)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1929 Jun 26 p. 1

Birth date: 1898

text of obituary:

YOUNG MT LAKE MOTHER VICTIM OF SEVERE BURNING

Mt. Lake, Minn., June 20. — A tragic accident Saturday morning at the John Fast, Jr. farm, two miles north and one-half mile west of Butterfield, resulted in the fatal burning of Mrs. Fast. Death came Sunday morning, after two days of excruciating suffering on the part of the victim.

Mrs. Fast started a fire in the kitchen range early Saturday morning, and then went out to assist with the morning chores. Upon her return to the kitchen she found that the fire was out, and being in a hurry, she took a full kerosene can, and poured a little into the stove. While doing this, kerosene from the can sprinkled over her apron. When she put a match to the kerosene in the stove, a spark caught the remains on her apron, and immediately burst into flame. Little alarmed, however, she set the can down, before going to the kitchen sink, thinking that she could easily extinguish the flames. This was impossible, however, and she ran out on the yard, calling for her husband and for help. He ran to her assistance, and she jumped into the large water tank. This put out the flames, but the damage had already been done. A great share of her body had been terribly burned, and most of her clothes were gone, and in all haste, she was covered, and her husband rushed her to Butterfield. Upon arriving there, they found that Dr. Hagen was not in town, whereup they drove to the Hollenitsch drug store which was still closed, and it was necessary to get Mr. Hollenitsch. he relieved the victim temporarily, and then the drive was made to Mountain Lake, where she was taken to the hospital.

Doctors and nurses used every power at their disposal, and Mrs. Fast was confident that she could survive the battle. Constant effort all day Saturday and Sunday were to no avail, however, and she breathed her last Monday morning.

The deceased reached the age of 30 years and 7 months, and leaves her grief stricken husband and two children, a girl of 10 and a boy of 7 years, who will all miss her sorely. Funeral services were conducted from the Bergfelder church yesterday afternoon. — Mt. lake observer.