Edward Frank Seger - Obituary

Atkinson Graphic April 6 1951
Edward F. Seger Killed Instantly Saturday Night By Falling Steel Dump Box
Edward Seger, 34, mechanic employed by the Keating Implement company of Atkinson was instantly killed Saturday night in the Keating repair shop when the steel box of a dump truck fell on him. Mr Seger was alone in the shop at the time of the accident. The truck, on which he had been doing some repaid work was his own vehicle.

Willis Peterson, local rancher, had been in the shop with Mr. Seger, working on a carburetor which he had brought in for repair. Peterson went out for a short time and when he returned about 10 o’clock, discovered Seger pinned between the truck frame and dumb box. Seger was crushed across the head and shoulders, caught as if by the snapping jaw of a monster when the raised box let go and fell. The examining doctor said that he undoubtedly been killed instantly.

Mr Seger had been employed by the Keating firm since 19??. It is presumed that he had been readying his truck for ----- gravel hauling and had driven it into the shop to work on it spare time. It had been his custom to return to the Keating store on Saturday nights on many occasions to help take care of customers needs.

He had raised the steel dump box to the dumping position and was evidently working on the hydraulic elevating mechanism under the box when the box fell.

A length of 2x4 found laying alongside the truck indicated that he had intended to prop the dump box up while working. It is not known whether he had used this safety measure and it had slipped, or whether he had neglected to insert the timber as a prop.

Shortly before the accident, Mr. Peterson came into the shop with the carburetor that needed repair. He and Seger checked it over, determined that several screws were missing. Peterson left to see if he could purchased the needed screws uptown, leaving Seger alone in the back shop.

He returned shortly, pounded on the back door of the shop, receiving no answer. Finally, he went around through the front way, entered the shop and found Seger pinned under the dump box.

Only member of the Keating firm in the front shop at the time of the accident was P. J. Keating, senior member. Mr. Keating knew nothing of the accident until Peterson discovered it.

Funeral services were held Tuesday at 2 p.m. at the Presbyterian church for Edward Frank Seger, who died March 31 at age of 34 years. Rev. Orin Graff conducted the service.

Music was provided by Mrs. Glen McClung and Miss Bonnie Humphrey with Miss --- McClung accompaning.

Funeral was at Woodlawn cemetery. Pallbearers were William Dexter, Charles Ankeny, Charles Ames, John Bonenberger, Robert and John Keating.

Edward Frank Seger was born June 20, 1916 in Atkinson, the son of Frank E. and Viola C. Seger. He was a lifelong resident of Atkinson and attended the Atkinson public school and high school.

He married Margaret H Fullerton February --, 1937. They had four children Margery Louise, 12, Mary Clara, 10, Lois Edna, 3 and Edward Melvin 5.

Survivors include his wife and children, father and mother, six brothers; Clifford, Lincoln, Orville, Chicago, Raymond, Ralph, Calvin and James, Atkinson; three sisters; Mrs. Wallace Carr, Maxine and Mildred, all of Atkinson, and many other relatives.

Out-of-town relatives attending the service were: Orville Seger, Chicago, Ill; Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Seger, Lincoln; Homer Fullerton, Osage, Wyo; Mrs. Earl Watt and Mrs Leslie Watt, both of Moorcraft, Wyo.