Baerg, Susie (1921-1944)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1944 Jul 13 p. 1, 8

Birth date: 1921 Oct 28

One Drowned, Three Others Narrowly Escape in Boat Accident

COMMUNITY SHOCKED BY ACCIDENT IN WHICH SUSIE BAERG LOST HER LIFE

An unusual number of farm accidents and drownings in Mennonite communities in different parts of the land were reported during the past week.

At Mountain Lake, Minn., the community was shocked over an accident in which Susie Baerg, 22, was drowned and three other persons narrowly escaped with their lives.

The following account of the tragedy is from the Mountain Lake Observer of July 6:

Susie Baerg, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H. G. Baerg of Lustre, Montana, drowned Tuesday night in Mountain Lake when the boat in which she was riding capsized in about six or seven feet of water, about 30 yards from shore west of the cemetery.

Other passengers in the boat were saved. Eddie Quiring, who could not swim, clung to the over-turned boat for over half an hour until he was rescued. Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Eitzen managed to make their way to shore with some help though she cannot swim and he is not a strong swimmer.

Jac. F. Schultz and Herman D. Peters were the first at the shoreline in response to cries for help. They ran around the shore from the bathing beach. Schultz immediately waded in as far as he could go and helped Mr. and Mrs. Eitzen to shore.

Frank P. Martens and Schultz gave artificial respiration to Mrs. Eitzen and then she was taken to Bethel hospital, where she is recuperating. When taken from the water, Mrs. Eitzen was unconscious. Her physician says that she may contract pneumonia from the exposure and the water she swallowed.

Alvin Eitzen, who manged [sic] to get his wife to safety from the overturned boat, said Wednesday morning that he still could not figure out just how he had accomplished the feat.

"I cannot swim at all," said Eitzen, "but somehow I managed to sort of leapfrog far enough toward shore so my feet touched. Then I heard my wife cry for help and I turned around and saw her floating there and a little farther out Susie was floating on the water which was over my head and managed to grab my wife's hand and sort of towed her toward shore, or at least far enough so that Jake Schultz could take her in. When I looked back Susie had disappeared."

Eitzen said that he did not believe that Susie cried for help at all.

The accident happened about 8:45 p.m. according to the closest estimate.

The Eitzens and Susie stopped at the lake and decided they would enjoy a ride. It was a small boat powered by an outboard motor.

The alarm was brought to town by Antony Penner, who was also at the lake for the evening. He drove in and informed Officer F. A. Schimnowsky, who sounded the fire alarm. The alarm was sounded just before 9:00 p.m.

The Fire Department put two drag lines in operation as soon as they had the boats launched, and they kept up their work of dragging the lake until they recovered the body about 10:15 p.m.

Miss Baerg graduated from Mountain Lake high school with the class of 1940. She went on to Freeman Junior college and for the past year had been teaching school in Montana. She was here on a visit with her sister, Mrs. Alvin Eitzen and other relatives.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1944 Jul 20 p. 4

text of obituary:

SUSIE BAERG

A fatal accident at Mountain Lake, Minn., claimed the life of Miss Susie Baerg, 22, the evening of July 4 when the boat in which she, her brother-in-law and sister, Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Eitzen, and the owner of the boat, Ed Quiring, were riding capsized and its occupants forced to battle the water. By the help of the Almighty, three were rescued, but Susie remained to become the victim of the water. Mrs. Eitzen suffered severe shock and was confined to the hospital for some time. her condition is improved.

Miss Baerg, who was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H. G. Baerg of Lustre, Montana, had left her home June 10 for a visit with friends and relatives in and around mt. Lake, Minn., where the accident occurred.

A funeral was held in Mt. Lake on July 7, after which the body was sent to Frazer, Mont., where she was put to her final resting place on July 11. A short service was held in the home of the deceased at 1:00 P.M. with Rev. J. C. Kaufman of Whitewater, Kansas, an old friend of the family, speaking words of comfort. A trio composed of J. D. Huebert, Otto Kliewer and John Kliewer sang two selections "Oh, That Will be Glory" and "No Longer Lonely."

The funeral services were held at the E. M. B. church with Mrs. J. A. Quiring playing the processional and recessional. She also accompanied the general singing, led by Otto Kliewer, of two songs "Safe In The Arms of Jesus" and "Face to Face". The message brought by Rev. Elmer Dick was from James 4:12 and 14. Rev. J. C. Kaufmann based his message on I Thess. 4:13. The trio sang the song requested by Miss Baerg shortly before she left to be sung at her funeral. it was entitled "Will Your Anchor Hold?" The E. M. B. choir sang, "Go To Jesus With All" while the M. B. choir sang "Lean On Me." A short recitation "Just In Case" was given by Erwin Schmidt, a former pupil. It had been given to him by Miss Baerg shortly before to be spoken at a C. E. program.

A procession of about 50 cars followed the hearse to the Bethel cemetery, where the burial took place. The Rev. J. J. Toews spoke from Rev. 21:1-5. The M. B. choir sang a German song, "Am goldenen Strand" and the trio sang "When All the Saints God Home." Pallbearers were: Corney Duerksen, J. D. Huebert, T. B. Wedel, Henry Dick, Lando Pankratz, and John Kliewer.

Relatives coming from a distance to attend the funeral were: Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Baerg and Sandra Lee of Louisville, Ky.; Anna Baerg, who is conducting vacation Bible school at Oraibi, Ariz.; Elizabeth Baerg who had been attending Wheaton College, Mr. and Mrs. Alvin D. Eitzen of Mt. Lake, Minn., and an uncle, Geo. Baerg from Canada.

Susie Baerg, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H. G. Baerg of Lustre, Mont., was born at Lustre on Oct 28, 1921. She received her elementary education near there and attended the Mt. Lake high school, graduating from there in 1940. The next fall she entered Freeman Jr. College at Freeman, S. Dak., graduating from it in 1942. During that summer she attended the Northern Montana College at Havre, Mont. She taught for the past two years in rural schools in the Lustre district. She had for several years taught the primary Sunday School Class and was church organist. Her sweet disposition and ever ready smile had won for her a host of friends.

She was baptized by the Rev. H. H. Quiring in 1937 and was accepted as a member of the Bergfelder Church at Mt. Lake, of which she was a faithful member till her death.

Besides her parents, she leaves to mourn her death three brothers, Arthur, Rueben and Clarence; three sisters, Anna, Elisabeth and Mrs. Alvin Eitzen; a grandmother, 2 nieces, and one nephew, besides a multitude of friends.

Her brother Clarence is serving in the armed forces in N. Africa and was unable to attend the services.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1944 Sep 14 p. 7

text of obituary:

SUSIE BAERG

Susie Baerg was born at Lustre, Montana on Oct 28, 1921.

She received her elementary education near Lustre, Montana and her High School at Mt. Lake, Minn. graduating from the Mt. Lake High School in 1940. The next fall she entered Freeman Junior College at Freeman, S. Dakota and graduated from the college in 1942. During the summer of 1942, she attended summer school at the Northern Montana College at Havre, Mont. She taught rural schools for the past two years besides being the organist for the church, and the S. S. teacher for the smallest tots.

She was baptized by the Rev. H. H. Quiring in 1937 and accepted as a member of the Bergfelder Church of Mt. Lake, Minn., of which she was a faithful member till her death.

She met an accidental death July 4, 1944, while enjoying a boat ride on mt. Lake together with Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Eitzen and Edward Quiring, owner of the boat. Somehow the boat tipped over and all of its occupants were forced to battle the water. By the help of the Almighty, the other three were rescued, but Susie remained to be a victim of the water. She reached the youthful age of 22 years, 8 months, and 6 days.

Besides her parents, she leaves to mourn, the grandmother, Mrs. Gerhard Rahn, three brothers and three sisters. Her oldest brother, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Baerg and daughter Sandra Lee of Louisville, Kentucky; Mr. and Mrs. Ruben Baerg and children Malcolm and Karon of Lustre, Montana; her youngest brother, Clarence, serving in the armed forces in North Africa; her oldest sister, Anna, who is conducting Vacation Bible School at Oraibi, Arizona; Elizabeth, who is attending Wheaton College, Wheaton, Illinois; and Mrs. Alvin D. Eitzen and her husband of Mt. Lake, Minnesota and many other relatives and friends. All of the family were able to attend the funeral in Montana on July 11, 1944, except her brother Clarence.

Although our hearts are bleeding, we are glad to know that she is at home, in the place which the Lord Jesus has prepared for her. Phil. 4:6-7 Be careful for nothing: but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace that passeth all understanding, shall keep your heats and minds through Jesus Christ.

Mr. and Mrs. H. G. Baerg and family.

The following is a poem which she had given to one of her S. S. pupils several days before she went to visit her sister in Mt. Lake on the 10th of June, 1944.

JUST IN CASE

If I knew that tomorrow there would be
No dawn on earth for me;
That I should have gone in the dark of the night
Into eternity . . . .
I should do so many things
For those I love,
But Oh; I should be happy too,
With those above!
So just in case I might be viewing
Morning in celestial skies,
Lord bring me those who need my love, today,
For, otherwise,
The night may close a door
On words I meant to say,
And morning find my empty house . . With me away.

The Mennonite obituary: 1944 Sep 12 p. 13