MEMBER OF WELL KNOWN SOREN JENSEN FAMILY STRICKEN SUDDENLY

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Mrs. Mary Voss Petersen, a member of the well known family of the late Mr. and Mrs. Soren Jensen, passed away suddenly in Long Beach, California last Friday afternoon. Attending physicians attribute the death to an acute heart attack.

Mrs. Petersen was born at Blair January 19th, 1877. She would have been 73 years of age next month. She was one of the family of thirteen born to the late Mr. and Mrs. Soren Jensen. She lived in this vicinity many years and most of her surviving sisters and brothers are still residents here.

On June 17, 1895, she was married to John Reeh, well known farmer of this county and to this union three children were born. A son, Lyle, died a number of years ago. The daughters were Blanche, now Mrs. Fred Voss of Millard; and Odella, now Mrs. Peter Diestal, of Hohokus, New Jersey. On May 26th, 1903, during an electrical storm, Mr. Reeh was struck by lightning and killed while standing in the doorway of the barn on his farm.

On February 22, 1905, Mrs. Reeh became the bride of Charles Siekkotter and to this union a daughter, Gladys was born. She is now Mrs. Dee Wilkins of Long Beach, California. Tragedy again entered the life of Mrs. Siekkotter, her husband suffering injuries about the head while seeding grain late in 1907. He developed lockjaw and passed away October 7th, 1907.

On October 28th, 1924, Mrs. Siekkotter was married to Adolph Voss of Millard, Nebraska and for many years she made her home in that vicinity. Later, Mr. and Mrs. Voss moved to Long Beach, California where they spent the winters, returning frequently, however, to the Millard and Blair vicinities, where they had many friends. Mr. Voss passed away May 17, 1947.

In October 1948, Mrs. Voss was married to Ingwar Petersen of Long Beach and the couple had made their home there much of the time since their marriage.

Services were held at Long Beach Monday and the body will arrive at the Campbell Mortuary in Blair today. Services will be held at Millard Friday and burial will be made on the family lot in Blair cemetery later in the day.

A brother, Albert A. Jensen of Millard, who had recently gone to California to spend Christmas with Mrs. Petersen, arrived but a few hours after her death.

Surviving besides her husband and daughters and their families are four brothers and two sisters. They are Nels M. Jensen; Ed A. Jensen; Henry Jensen of Blair and Albert A. Jensen, of Millard. The sisters: Mrs. Henry Voss (Myrtle) of Blair and Mrs. Ed Gilbertson (Esther) of Lincoln.

There are five surviving grandchildren. They are Bonnie and Shirley Voss, daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Voss of Millard; and Gladys, Peter, and John Diestal, children of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Diestal of New Jersey.

Pall bearers will be John Voss, Robert Jensen, Merton Jensen, Merton Kuhr, Stanley Jensen and Harlan Jensen.

Mrs. Petersen was a woman of superior ability, raising and managing her family and personal affairs well despite the numerous tragedies which became her lot. Loved by all who knew her, she had a keen sense of humor and understanding, a quick wit and a cheerful, happy disposition. She was one who could overcome adversities and pick the better and happier things of life as each day came.

~~~Obituaries courtesy of the Nebraska Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair, Nebraska Public Library~~~

Find a Grave Memorial #112906211