Word was received here this afternoon of the sudden death at about 2 o’clock this afternoon of Mrs. D. W. VanDeusen at their home in Kennard. The doctor couldn’t tell whether it was heart trouble or a stroke of apoplexy. She fell from a chair and was found dead on the floor by Mr. VanDeusen when he came into the house. She was 79 years of age and had not been well for several years.

She is survived by four children, Frank, the eldest son, was in California when last heard from. Charles is chief of detectives on the Omaha police force. Mr. Otto Cunningham lives near Kennard and Miss Bessie is a school teacher.

Note: Per Blair Cemetery records, name was Margaret J Hall Van Deusen; died 1 Sept. 1923; Blk 19 Lot 7 Grave 7.

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

Find a Grave Memorial #119853355 Tribune 13 Sept. 1923

The many friends of Mrs. D. W. VanDeusen were greatly shocked last Wednesday afternoon when she passed suddenly away from a stroke of apoplexy. She had not been as well as usual for a few days, but that day she seemed much better and was sitting in her chair when the summons came. She leaves to mourn for her a husband, two sons, Frank of this city and Charles H. of Omaha, two daughters, Mrs. O. A. Cunningham and Miss Bessie of this city, one grandson, Glenn Cunningham, and one brother, Sam Hall, whose address is unknown at present. Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to the family in the loss of a loving wife and mother.

Pilot 13 Sept. 1923

Another Pioneer Has Passed

Last week we made a brief note of the sudden death of Mrs. D. W. VanDeusen, of Kennard, the editor’s aunt, which occurred at about 2 o’clock last Wednesday afternoon. She was stricken while sitting on a chair and fell dead to the floor, where her husband found her a few minutes later.

The funeral was held at the Methodist church in Kennard at 2 o’clock Friday afternoon, Rev. W. D. Smith officiating. Music was furnished by the church choir, assisted by Otto Olson on the violin.

The active pallbearers were: G. R. Stewart, O. W. Marshall, John Blaco, Homer A. Wright, W. H. Rosenbaum, Bert Leonard.

The honorary pallbearers were: John Rosenbaum, C. W. Weed, T. R. Gaines, Henry Kempcke, Hans Jeppersen and R. H. Denton.

Margaret J. Hall was born in Westmoreland county, Pa., December 23rd, 1844, and so was nearing her 79th birthday when she was called so suddenly to her eternal rest. She came to Nebraska in 1866 and had the distinction to teach the first rural school organized in the vicinity of Kennard.

She was married to DeWitt VanDeusen at the then new town of Blair on March 13th, 1872, so they had lived together for over fifty golden years. Their first home was on a farm in the Brewster school district, later on what is now known as the Peter Reeh farm. From there they moved to this city and after a few years to Omaha, where they lived until they moved to Kennard a few years ago.

She is survived by her husband and four children, Mrs. O. A. Cunningham, who lives near Kennard, Chas. H., who is chief of detectives on the Omaha police force, Frank, who was in South Dakota when last heard from, and Bessie, who teaches school but made her home with her parents. Also one brother, Samuel Hall, whose present address is unknown.

Mrs. VanDeusen joined the Calvary Baptist church in Omaha in 1889 and later transferred her membership to Blair Baptist church. She had been in poor health for a number of years and yet the beauty of her Christian character shone out through all her suffering. The wealth of floral tributes at the funeral service bore mute testimony to the high esteem in which she and the family are held in the community that had been their home for many years.

Those in attendance at the funeral from Omaha were Ben Danbahm, Mrs. Ellen Gibbons, Mr. and Mrs. M. M. Murray, Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Cavanaugh, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Craven, Mr. and Mrs. Louis Boye and Misses Mabel and Blanche Smith. Mrs. Harry Spink and daughter, Nellie, were present from Council Bluffs, Mr. and Mrs. L. F. Krevmberg of Fremont, Mrs. Pearl Wilds, Mrs. E. J. Cunningham and son, Frank, F. L. Schafer, G. S. and Mr. and Mrs. Don C. VanDeusen, of Blair.