Don Mencke Killed In Car-Tractor Accident

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Caption under picture: Pictured above is the tractor Donald Mencke, 36 years of age, was driving when it was involved in an accident with a car. Mr. Mencke was killed when the tractor tipped upside down, pinning him underneath.

Mr. Mencke’s son, Tommy, 10 years of age, who was riding on the tractor with his father, was not injured.

Pilot Tribune Nov. 25, 1963

Car-Tractor Accident Sunday At 6:30 O’Clock

Donald Mencke, 36 years of age, was killed Sunday evening in a tractor-car accident on Highway 133 south of Blair.

The accident took place at approximately 6:30 p.m.

Mr. Mencke was traveling from his home to that of John Masters, his brother-in-law, at the time of the accident. Mr. Mencke was traveling north on Highway 133 just south of the Earl Thompson farm home near the McCarthy School, when a car traveling north struck his tractor.

Patrolman Lowell Korber states that Richard Burbridge, 18 years of age, Missouri Valley, Iowa, was the driver of the car which struck the tractor.

Korber stated that two other Missouri Valley, Iowa youths, ages 17 and 18, were riding in the Burbridge car at the time of the accident.

Korber stated that Burbridge gave this account of the accident. That he (Burbridge) came over the hill, just south of where the accident took place, noted the lights of an approaching car and a small white light abreast of it. He, (Burbridge) stated he thought the one light was that of a car with one light, at first. He stated that he was traveling approximately 50 miles an hour shortly prior to the accident. Burbridge applied his brakes. The car struck the left rear wheel of the tractor which caused the tractor to go out of control.

Korber stated that the tractor flipped upside down and pinned Mr. Mencke underneath. Mr. Mencke’s son, Tommy, 10 years of age, was riding on the tractor with his father. Tommy was thrown clear of the tractor and rushed to the Earl Thompson farm home for help.

Funeral services will be Wednesday afternoon at two o’clock at the first Methodist Church, the Rev. Dale Westadt officiating with interment in Blair Cemetery.

Mr. Mencke was taken to Memorial Community Hospital by Deputy Bert Spanton. He was dead upon arrival at the hospital.

This is the second Washington County Highway fatality for 1963.

Mr. Mencke was born October 2, 1927 in Blair. He has been a resident of Washington County his entire life. He farmed a small acreage and was a construction worker.

Mr. Mencke is survived by his wife, Betty; children, Tommy 10, Stanley seven, Randy five and Bonnie Lynn four. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Otto Mencke; sisters; Mrs. Gertrude Nelson, and Mrs. Scott Hineline (Sophie) of Colorado; Mrs. Emma Hutchinson of Washington; Mrs. Roy Rapp (Norma) of Idaho; Mrs. Anthony Kochner (Delores) of Lincoln; Mrs. Robert Brothers (Betty) of Missouri Valley, Iowa; Mrs. Clyde Hineline (Helen), Mrs. Rudy Thaden (Minnie)., Mrs. Ed Cushman (Martha), Mrs. Willard Warrick (Opal) all of Blair; Mrs. John Anderson, Pearl) of Kennard and Mrs. Bill Aronson (Barbara) of Tekamah.

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

FindaGrave #111481775