Friesen, Heinrich (1845-1941)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1941 Mar 19 p. 1

Birth date: 1845

Oldest Resident of Mountain Lake Fatally Injured Last Week

HEINRICH FRIESEN, 95, DIES ONE HOUR AFTER BEING STRUCK BY CAR

Mt. Lake, Minn., March 13. — Death came to Mountain Lake's oldest resident Sunday night. Heinrich Friesen, who would be 96 in June, was struck by a car and died in the Bethel hospital about an hour later.

Mr. Friesen, who prided himself on his activity, was returning home about 7:30 p.m. Sunday, after making several visits in the neighborhood. he was walking down Tenth street, heading south toward his home in the Wiens apartments.

Walking on the right side of the street, he was in the path of traffic going in his direction. He was struck just opposite the apartment house. P. P. Klassen, driver of the car, said that the street light glare caused the pedestrian to be practically invisible until the car was upon him.

Mr. Friesen was wearing dark clothing, and that combined with the darkness and fog and the dark pavement, added to the difficulty of seeing hm until too late. At least one other driver had just missed striking him a few minutes prior to the accident.

Witnesses said that the car was not going over 20 miles per hour, and was braked immediately. The impact bowled Mr. Friesen over, fracturing both legs below the knee. he was moved to his apartment and the Janzen ambulance called. He was taken to the Bethel hospital where it was found that he had suffe3ed broken ribs and a slight skull fracture.

He was conscious until a few minutes before he died.

Funeral services will be held today from the Mennonite brethren church at 2:00 o'clock.

He is survived by his three daughters: Sister Margareta, with whom he lived here in Mountain Lake; Mrs. Jacob J. Toews, Frazer, Montana, and Mrs. John Beier, Salem, Oregon. Four sons preceded him in death.

Mr. Friesen's death was the first traffic fatality in Mountain Lake since January, 1933, when John B. Unruh was killed in a collision with a train.

— Mt. Lake Observer.