Memorials › Laurence A. Stefl

Laurence A. Stefl

9 Jul 1919 – 1 Jul 1937

Birth9 Jul 1919
Death1 Jul 1937
CemeteryHingham Union Cemetery
Hingham , Hill County , Montana , USA
Added byMaureen and Ed Weatherly on 06 Aug 2011
FaGhttps://www.findagrave.com/memorial/9533827

Bio

Hi-Line Weekly Hingham, MT, July 8, 1937 Laurence Stefl The entire community was appalled last Thursday evening at about 7:30 o'clock when it was first learned that Clarence and Laurence Stefl were drowned sometime that afternoon in the old Knopes reservoir located about three miles southeast of town, and that a search for the bodies was underway. During the night before the tragic day, the two brothers had completed the job of summer fallowing a neighbor's field; and after continuing the job of plowing on their own acreage from morning until noon, their father, John Stefl, being more than satisfied with the good work accomplished by the boys, took charge of the tractor at noon for the rest of the day and advised the boys to enjoy the afternoon at ease. The lads had dinner as usual, and about two hours later drove down to the reservoir about a mile from their home for a swim. No further thought was given by the busy household concerning the welfare of the two boys who had visited the reservoir for bathing in past seasons. It was until about 6:00 that evening when their sister Clara on her way to the pasture to get the cows first felt that something was radically wrong when she noticed in the distance that the boys' car was still parked at the reservoir at that late hour. She hastened the cows homeward, while her father from a nearby field seeing this unusual procedure, also sensed that something had happened and left the field to join his daughter. Conceding the apprehension of his daughter, an anxious father rushed to the parked car only to be smitten by the stark realization of what had occurred to his two beloved sons sometime during that fateful afternoon. The lonely car, the discarded garments, and the two one-way tracks leading into the murky waters, all in deathly silence bluntly told the crushing truth that blasted the loving hearts of both mother and father into the depths of mortal grief and despair. The sad and startling intelligence of this appalling tragedy first shocked and then struck the entire community into action, as no efforts were spared for the recovery of the bodies of these two young men from their watery grave. It was shortly after 12 o'clock that night when willing hands and anxious hearts successfully wrested the still forms from the black waters that at the point of recovery measured 12 feet deep. The bodies were taken to Havre at once by James Holland, county coroner, and Sheriff Timmons, and the members of the Catholic Ladies Club took charge of the grief stricken home while many of our citizens with saddened hearts returned to their homes to spend a sleepless night. Since the floor of the Knopes reservoir, with its deep and shallow places, was known to the Stefl brothers, there is much speculation as to the probable circumstances that brought about this double tragedy, the true facts of which, of course, are to remain sealed forever, behind the lips of the dead. It is said that there are two deep channels in this reservoir, one parallels the dam and the other follows the center of the coulee at right angles to the first channel. A ridge of elevated ground submerged by four or five feet of water also parallels the dam and separates the two deep channels. It was on or just east of this ridge into the deep channel along the dam where the two bodies were recovered. Rosary services were held at the Holland and Bonine funeral home in Havre at 8:30 o'clock Sunday evening, and funeral services were conducted from the St. Mary's Catholic Church at Hingham at 9:30 a.m. Monday. Rev. Fr. Werner officiated with the assistance of Rev. Fr. Martins. The church was crowded beyond capacity by the many sympathizing friends and neighbors who came from far and near. Interment was in the Hingham Union cemetery. Clarence A. Stefl was born at Hingham November 30, 1916, and his brother, Laurence July 9, 1919. They both spent their early childhood days in the Black Coulee country, south of Rudyard, where their father homesteaded in the early days and later moved to this vicinity where both grew to manhood. The lads were inseparable, always boon companions in clean and manly habits, conscientious in their Catholic faith and devoted to their parents and sisters. Clarence graduated from the Hingham high school a year ago with high credits while his younger brother was a member of the freshman class. The pallbearers, all selected from the membership rolls of the Catholic Youth Council, were: Joe Farnik, William Lipp, Matt Lipp, Ambrose Burkhartsmeyer, Joe Divish, Frank Divish, Albert Horinek, Rudy Spinler, Vincent Spinler, Jacob Vavruska, Harlan Wendland, and Mike Burkhartsmeyer. The young ladies who officiated as flower girls, also selected from the above organization were: Martha Farnik, Helen Horinek, Eileen Muller, Elizabeth Lipp, Virginia Ludwig, and Patricia Carr. The two departed sons and brothers are survived by their devoted parents, Mrs. and Mrs. John Stefl of Hingham; two sisters, Mrs. Fred Kono of Missoula and Miss Clara Stefl of Hingham; two grandmothers, Mrs. Frank Stefl and Mrs. Frank Frolik, both of Rice Lake, Wisconsin; six aunts, Mrs. Emil Wilda, Rudyard, Mrs. Joseph Dvorak, Mrs. Anna Schleiss, Mrs. James Van Helden, Mrs. Louis Fencl, all of Rice Lake, Wisconsin, Mrs. William Yahout of Minneapolis, Minnesota; and six uncles, Frank Frolik, Joseph Frolik, Anton Frolik, Louis Frolik, Frank Stefl, and Wencil Stefl, all of Rice Lake, Wisconsin. Words of sympathy are but feeble efforts on the part of the many sympathetic friends who share the burden of deep sorrow that has been forced upon the bereaved parents and sisters whose only solace in this world of pain and sorrow can only be found in the abiding faith of our Lord and Savior. -- Parents: John and Barbara (Frolik) Stefl

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