OPAL NELSON DIED AFTER AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT

Opal Nelson, the thirteen year old daughter of L. E. Nelson of Herman, died at the Blair hospital Saturday morning at 4 o’clock, after the amputation of her limb Friday evening, the operation being made in hopes of saving her life, and as a last resort.

A full account of the injury of this young girl was made in these columns last week, but a resume may not be out of place at this time.

Opal, with others of her class in the Herman school, were being initiated into the Freshman order at a party given on the school house lawn on Friday evening. She was blindfolded and taken into the main road south of Herman and was being led up the road by one of the boys of the school. When near the corner Chas.Cameron, driving a car, came around this corner and seeing a line of youngsters on one side of the road, close to him, swerved his car to the other side, running over the girl. It is said that the boy with her saw the car and attempted to push Opal further from the track, but she, fearing it was another stunt of the series to which she was being subjected, resisted him and thus remained in the path of the car. Whatever the exact details may or may not have been, she was severely injured, sustaining a compound fracture of the right leg and a fractured collar bone. She was brought to the Blair hospital where she was attended by both Omaha and local physicians, who hope to save her life, but knowing at the same time that in the event of her recovery, she would be seriously crippled. She received constant attention and skilled nursing, but infection of a serious nature developed and the physicians felt that the only chance to save her was to amputate the limb, which they did, the amputation being made between the knee and thigh. She had lost more than two quarts of blood and this, alone, was a serious handicap, and she did not rally after the operation.

Opal Nelson was born in Herman, November 3, 1908, and died October 14, 1922, aged 13 years, 11 months and 11 days. She is survived by her parents, three sisters, Mrs. Floyd Knott, Misses Viola and Freda Nelson, and one brother, Howard.

The funeral was held Monday at the Baptist church in Herman, of which the little girl was a member, Rev. Kesterson, pastor, delivering the discourse. The funeral was largely attended by sympathizing friends who knew and loved her.

Opal was a member of the “Willing Workers” Sunday school class, and the Sunday before the accident which caused her death, she and members of her class had charge of the Sunday evening meeting of the B. Y. P. U. and she had delighted the audience with a beautiful violin solo, which all who heard it will always remember in connection with her. She is spoken as a child of unusual affection, loving everyone and desiring to be loved in return. She had ensconsed herself in the hearts of all those who knew her a few children are capable of doing and her death is an individual loss to her wide circle of acquaintances.

While she is laid away from sight, her short life had filled its mission and her work will live after her. A pure soul has simply been transported in God’s garden of everlasting flowers.

#2 Printed in the Thursday, October 19, 1922 Herman Record, Herman, Nebraska

Death Claims Accident Victim

Opal Nelson, one of the victims of the accident that turned what was to have been a night of joy for the freshman and sophomore classes of the Herman high school into one of sorrow, died last Saturday morning at the Blair hospital after a week of most strenuous effort on the part of surgeons and nurses to fend off the grim destroyer.

The funeral was held at the Baptist church in Herman, Monday afternoon, the building being inadequate by far to accommodate all who came to pay a last loving tribute to the little one snatched from among her companions in so terrible a manner.

Rev. T. S. Kesterson pastor of the Baptist church, had charge of the services and was assisted by Rev. W. A. Bowden, pastor of the Methodist church. Music was furnished by Mrs. C. E. Johnson, Mrs. George Lowee, Fred Robertson and Chas. R. Gray, with Mrs. L. V. Ackerman at the piano.

Six of Opal’s boy schoolmates, George Lowe, Jr., Lewis Lowe, Elzy Triplett, Wallace Fitch, Elmer Niederkruger and Clifford West, were the pall bearers. Twelve little girls from among her schoolmates bearing flowers preceded the casket when it was borne from the family home to the church. The floral offerings were many and very beautiful.

Interment was at the Herman cemetery.[Note: in Oakland]

Opal Nelson was born in Herman November 3, 1908, and was 13 years, 11 months and 11 days old at the time of her death. She is survived by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Lars E. Nelson, three sisters, Mrs. Floyd Knott and Miss Viola Nelson of Omaha, Miss Frieda and a brother, Howard, living at home.

Relatives from out of town who attended the funeral were Mr. and Mrs. Longree, Mr. and Mrs. Levi Johnson, Mr. and Mrs. E. Johnson, Mr. and Mrs. George Johnson, Mr. and Mrs. Richard Enstron, Herman Johnson, Mr. and Mrs. David Johnson of Oakland, Charles Manner and Mrs. Esther Manner of West Point.

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

Note: Not buried in Herman, but is in Oakland Cemetery.