Fern Paulsen, age 2

Mr. and Mrs. Paul Paulsen, who live up near the Cuming City school house, lost their little daughter, Fern, 2 years old, Monday afternoon.

She tried to swallow a bean and it got stuck in her windpipe and choked her to death before medical assistance could be obtained. The funeral was held at the Danish church this afternoon. Rev. H.L. Kjoeller speaking in Danish and Rev. N.P. Lang in English. Miss Agnes Nielsen, of Dana College, sang both in English and Danish. Mr. and Mrs. Paulsen have the sympathy of many friends in their sad and sudden grief.

Pilot Tribune 1 Nov 1916

Paul Paulsen says we didn’t have the account quite accurate last week about the death of their little daughter, Fern Viola. While Mrs. Paulsen was cleaning house the children got hold of a package of seed beans and some of them were spilled upon the floor. The baby attempted to swallow one and it lodged in her bronchial tube and strangled her. The doctor was called and upon his arrival she seemed to be better. He thought the bean had been coughed up and there would be no further trouble. She didn’t seem to act right and they brought her to town thinking they would take her to Omaha, but their physician thought it was unnecessary. They returned home and about an hour afterwards she passed away.