Elmer Raymond Holstein was born on July 4, 1913, to Mr. and Mrs. Sam Holstein at Wagner, South Dakota. When he was two years old, he moved with his family to a farm near Washington, Nebraska where he still lived at the time of his death. He loved the woods along the Papio Creek and it was there while working with the trees that he was injured by a falling limb. He passed away on February 6, 1969 at the age of 55 years, 7 months, and 2 days.

Elmer was baptized and confirmed as a Lutheran and had served faithfully in the work of the church. He was so grateful that God lived with him and helped him throughout his lifetime. He was especially blessed in his recovery from heart surgery and never ceased to praise God for these added years of life.

He was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church for 29 years and during that time he was active on the Church Council, 9 years and the Building Fund, 3 years. He was a past president of the Brotherhood and he and his wife were members of the Lutheran Couples Club for about 25 years. Most of all, he was faithful in church attendance and missed very few Sundays at worship.

Elmer attended grade and high school at Washington, Nebr. He then started farming and has been most successful in his occupation. In 1968 the Holsteins were honored by receiving the Papio Conservation Award. He also served on the Washington School Board for twelve years.

On May 24, 1939 he was united in marriage to Anita Helen Paulsen of Bennington. To this union three children were born: Virginia (Mrs. Lyle Nelson) of Fremont, Curtis-a sophomore at Nebr. University and Nila- a senior in Blair High School. He was a good father and tried every way to be loving and understanding of their needs.

In addition to the children and the wife, other survivors are his mother, Mrs. Mary Holstein of Blair; his brother, Glen Holstein of Escondido, California; and his sisters, Mrs. Carsen (Margaret) Petersen of Kennard, and Mrs. George (Irma) Suverkrubbe of Blair. Also many nieces and nephews.

Many memorials have been given to St. John’s Lutheran Church in his memory, in addition to the beautiful flowers.

Blair Pilot Tribune 10 Feb 1969 Well Known Area Farmer Killed By Falling Tree Limb

Elmer Holstein Killed while Cutting Trees at farm last Thursday

Elmer Holstein, who farmed six miles south of Kennard, was killed sometime Thursday by a falling limb while engaged in cutting some cottonwood trees on his farm. Since Mr. Holstein was alone on the farm at the time, the exact details cannot be established, but from reports given by those at the scene, the probable course of events can be deduced.

Mr. Holstein wished to clear out some trees in a pasture on the north side of his farm. He had contacted Richard Japp, who operates a bulldozer, to push over the trees. Mr. Japp saw that some of the trees were too large to be bulldozed and said that they must be cut. Due to snow and ice, he drove the bulldozer back to the Holstein farmyard, where it was parked. Mr. Holstein had just purchased a new chain saw, and sometime Thursday, set out to cut down the trees, using his farm tractor for transportation. The exact time is unknown, as Mrs. Holstein teaches at March School, and the daughter, Nila, goes to Blair High.

When Mrs. Holstein came home from school, she did not see Mr. Holstein around the farmyard, but did not become alarmed until it began to get dark. She then called for Mr. Holstein, and not finding him, called Richard Japp to see if he had talked to Mr. Holstein. Richard said that he had not been at the Holstein farm that day, but, sensing that Mrs. Holstein was quite concerned, said that he would come over. Several neighbors also came and they discovered the tractor tracks leading out to the grove. Following these, they found Mr. Holstein’s body.

As nearly as can be re-constructed, Mr. Holstein had started to cut a large cottonwood and had wedged it so that it would fall away from his tractor. Apparently, he had left this tree and moved back, when a large dead branch of another tree, partially supported by the tree he was cutting, suddenly gave way. The falling branch struck Mr. Holstein on the forehead, either killing him at once or knocking him unconscious.

When the body was found, Dr. K.C. Bagby, who had accompanied Deputy Sheriff Ben Reeh to the scene, said that Mr. Holstein had been dead some hours.

The Bennington Rescue Squad was called. And after considerable difficulty in reaching the scene, took the body to the Hadan-Golden mortuary in Bennington.

An obituary, contributed by the members of the family, appears on page seven of this issue.