Howard Andersen, City Utility Employee, Killed When Struck By Car Late Saturday

Was member of crew working at a manhole on East Washington

(Photo of place where accident occurred) Caption: Utility Crew was working at the manhole in the foreground of the above picture.

Howard Andersen, 1966 Colfax street, died at the Blair Hospital Saturday night after being struck by a car while he was working in east Blair.

Howard and five other men were working on a sewer which had become clogged and the men were working at a manhole attempting to open the line. The accident occurred on east Washington Street, near the Gulf Oil Station.

Working with Howard were Lefty Robinson, Willie Lucht, Howard’s brother, Gene Andersen and his son, Tom Andersen. Utilities Commissioner W. H. Andrews was also there.

The crew had been working a block south on Lincoln street and had just moved to the manhole at Washington street when the accident happened. Willie Lucht had just gone down into the manhole and the other men were gathered around, some holding lights and others preparing to do whatever seemed to be necessary.

Commissioner Andrews had his car with a revolving red light parked east of the manhole and Howard’s pickup truck, also with a revolving red light, was west of the manhole.

Suddenly a red Mustang came out of the dairy Queen parking lot. Those at the scene report hearing the screech of tires followed by the sound of a car leaving the scene. Howard had been struck directly by the car and two of the other men were bruised. Lucht, who was in the manhole, reported that the car went directly over the manhole.

Andersen was knocked a number of feet and he was found lying under the front of his pickup.

Members of the crew who were not injured ran to a telephone booth at the Gulf station and called the Rescue Squad. City Patrolmen Groves and Warden were also notified and they sped to the scene. They were told what had happened and they started out to search for the red car which had left the scene.

Some time later Brenda Biffar, 17-year-old Blair girl appeared at the Blair Police station and reported that she believed her car had struck something as she passed the scene of the accident. “I hit something – I don’t know what” she is reported to have stated at the station.

Miss Biffar was held and charges of Motor Vehicle Homicide were placed against her. She was released on a $2000 bond. A preliminary arraignment is to take place soon and the case will go to District Court.

4 Oct 1973

Howard Andersen Burial Services Held Tuesday

Howard Raymond Andersen was born December 18, 1934 at Blair and had lived here all of his life. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Christian M. Andersen, who survive. He was married to Imogene Dennis, also of Blair, on June 24, 1954.

He was baptized and confirmed in the First Lutheran Church of Blair.

He was a member of the Blair Fire Department and the Rescue Squad, the Fraternal Order of Eagles and he was a board member of the Blair community federal Credit Union.

The family lived at 1966 Colfax street.

At the time of his death he was a foreman of the maintenance crews of the Utility Department, City of Blair a position which he had held for a number of years.

He is survived by his wife and family of five children. They are Thomas, Kathy, Linda, Julie and Amy, all of whom are living at home.

Two brothers, Eugene and Duane, live in Blair and another brother, Dale, resides at Bonesteel, South Dakota.

Four sisters survive. They are: Mrs. Bill (Arlene) Dudley of Herman; Mrs. Kenneth (Norma) Truhlsen, Mrs. Wallace (Alice) Plummer, Mrs. Clarence (Helen) Sheets, all of Blair.

Funeral services were held at the First Lutheran Church Tuesday afternoon, the Rev. Robert Albers conducting the service. Burial was made in the Blair Cemetery under the direction of the Campbell Mortuary.

Pallbearers were Everett Paine, Allan Sorensen, Quentin Quist, Darold Webster Lyle Christensen and Eugene Wilkins.

At the funeral services Tuesday every city employee who could be released from his work was in attendance.

The members of the Blair Fire Department attended enmasse and members of the Kennard Volunteer department stood by in Blair to handle any calls that might develop during the services.

The Rescue Squad, of which Howard was a member also attended in full uniform. The Ft. Calhoun Rescue Squad stood by for local calls during the service.

Blair Police also attended in full force and the staff of Sheriff Bert Spanton directed traffic and handled the calls during the hours of the service.

From Funeral Folder:

Howard R. Andersen

BORN: December 18, 1934 Blair, Nebraska

DIED: September 30, 1973 Blair, Nebraska

SERVICES: First Lutheran Church 2 p.m., Oct. 2, 1973

MINISTER: Rev. Robert Albers

MUSIC: Mrs. Clare Cowing; David Carlsen

INTERMENT: Blair Cemetery

PALLBEARERS: Everett Paine: Allan Sorensen; Quentin Quist; Darold Webster; Lyle Christensen; Eugene Wilkins

PALLBEARERS: Everett Paine, Allan Sorensen, Quentin Quist, Darold Webster, Lyle Christensen, Eugene Wilkins

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