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Submitted: 3/13/12 • Approved: 3/18/12 • Last Updated: 8/14/15 • R153775-G0-S3
Double Funeral for
Mother and Son
Double funeral service was held Saturday afternoon for Mrs. Edith Spear and her son Ward, who passed away within an hour and a quarter at Sioux Falls early Thursday morning. Ward passed away at 2 o'clock a.m., at his home. The mother died at a Sioux Falls Hospital at 3:15. She had been admitted to the hospital less than an hour before. Mrs. Spear had not been told of her son's death.
Mr. Spear, who had been employed by the Northern States Power Co., as line construction foreman, had worked the previous day. The crew had been working in Dell Rapids and those who saw him and talked with him said he appeared to be in good health. He suffered a heart attack and survived only a few minutes thereafter. His mother had not been in good health for some time.
The Spears formerly lived at Dell Rapids. Mrs. Spear, whose maiden name was Edith Myrtle Main, was born March 3, 1872, at Joliet, Ill. Her parents came to South Dakota in 1884, locating near Dell Rapids. She was married March 2, 1892, to Gustavus Spear. They moved from the farm to town in 1906, Mr. Spear passing away here in 1916. Mrs. Spear moved to Sioux Falls in 1940.
She is survived by a son George; a daughter, Bertha, both of Sioux Falls; a stepdaughter, Mrs. Wenona Sawyer, White River, S.D.; two sisters, her twin Mrs. Edna Norton and Mrs. Elsie Yarrow, Sioux Falls; 13 grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Ward Gustavus Spear was born August 18, 1897 at Dell Rapids, where he attended the grade and high school. He moved to Sioux Falls in 1920 as an employee of the Northern States Power Co., and held a position with that company for the past twenty-seven years. He was united in marriage to Anna E. George, April 16, 1925, at Pipestone, Minn. Surviving are the widow and one son, Ward Jr., and aviation electronic technician's mate, at present with a Pacific fleet carrier. He was a member of the Dell Rapids Masonic Lodge No. 40, and of the Sioux Falls Consistory, and was a highly esteemed and faithful member of both organizations. He was member of the Methodist church, as was also his mother.
Funeral services were held at the Miller home in Sioux Falls at 2 o'clock Saturday afternoon. Burial was made on the family lot in the Dell Rapids Cemetery, Rev. Charles Spear of Mankato, Minn., nephew and cousin of the deceased, conducted the double funeral rites.
Dell Rapids Tribune July 24, 1947
Contributed on 3/13/12 by dellsfig68
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Record #: 153775