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Roger Dale Smith

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Roger Dale Smith

Birth
Wilkin County, Minnesota, USA
Death
3 Jul 1970 (aged 37)
Anoka County, Minnesota, USA
Burial
Fergus Falls, Otter Tail County, Minnesota, USA Add to Map
Memorial ID
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Burial of a family of nine, victims of a car-train crash Friday night, was scheduled for 4 p.m. today at Knollwood Memorial Gardens at Fergus Falls.
The funeral for Roger D. Smith, 37, his wife, Mary, both former residents of Fergus Falls and their seven children, was held at the Mormon Church in Anoka at 10 a.m. today.
Only surviving child of the Smiths, Linda, 16, was with her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. J. Leo Smith of Fergus Falls, when the accident occurred on a county road about five miles west of Anoka.
Children who died in the crash were Susan, 13; Eugene, 11;
Stephen 8; Kevin 7; Daniel 6; Angela 3; and JoAnne 11 months.
Mr. Smith was a foreman with Adolfson and Peterson, building contractors who erected the high rise in Fergus Falls. His wife was a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Vollbrecht of rural Fergus Falls.
According to the Anoka County coroner, Dr. Joseph F. Wethington, the Smiths were looking at property in the area shortly before the accident since they wanted to build a home. They had left the home of friends about 9:45 p.m., a few minutes before the accident.
Officials said the 40-car Burlington Northern freight was traveling more than 50 miles an hour when it smashed into the car. Impact of the crash hurled the front assembly of the car about 100 yards down the track. Tangled wreckage of other pieces was carried another 300 yards. The train required about a mile to stop after the crash.
The crash site near an intersection with Highway 10 has stop signs and conventional cross - arm signs but no electrified warning system.
Mr. Smith's survivors, beside his daughter, Linda and his parents, include four brothers, Russell of Fergus Falls, Alvin, Richard and Lawrence in Iowa.
In addition to her parents, Mrs. Smith leaves three brothers, Richard of Moorhead, Paul of rural Fergus Falls, Anthony of Arlington, Va., and two sisters, Mrs. Mylo (Kathryn) Sheldon of Alcester, S.D., and Jane at home.
Officiating at the services was President David Cobia of the Church of Latter Day Saints. The Olson Funeral Home was in charge of local arrangements
Burial of a family of nine, victims of a car-train crash Friday night, was scheduled for 4 p.m. today at Knollwood Memorial Gardens at Fergus Falls.
The funeral for Roger D. Smith, 37, his wife, Mary, both former residents of Fergus Falls and their seven children, was held at the Mormon Church in Anoka at 10 a.m. today.
Only surviving child of the Smiths, Linda, 16, was with her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. J. Leo Smith of Fergus Falls, when the accident occurred on a county road about five miles west of Anoka.
Children who died in the crash were Susan, 13; Eugene, 11;
Stephen 8; Kevin 7; Daniel 6; Angela 3; and JoAnne 11 months.
Mr. Smith was a foreman with Adolfson and Peterson, building contractors who erected the high rise in Fergus Falls. His wife was a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Vollbrecht of rural Fergus Falls.
According to the Anoka County coroner, Dr. Joseph F. Wethington, the Smiths were looking at property in the area shortly before the accident since they wanted to build a home. They had left the home of friends about 9:45 p.m., a few minutes before the accident.
Officials said the 40-car Burlington Northern freight was traveling more than 50 miles an hour when it smashed into the car. Impact of the crash hurled the front assembly of the car about 100 yards down the track. Tangled wreckage of other pieces was carried another 300 yards. The train required about a mile to stop after the crash.
The crash site near an intersection with Highway 10 has stop signs and conventional cross - arm signs but no electrified warning system.
Mr. Smith's survivors, beside his daughter, Linda and his parents, include four brothers, Russell of Fergus Falls, Alvin, Richard and Lawrence in Iowa.
In addition to her parents, Mrs. Smith leaves three brothers, Richard of Moorhead, Paul of rural Fergus Falls, Anthony of Arlington, Va., and two sisters, Mrs. Mylo (Kathryn) Sheldon of Alcester, S.D., and Jane at home.
Officiating at the services was President David Cobia of the Church of Latter Day Saints. The Olson Funeral Home was in charge of local arrangements


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