Frederick George Fischer

(6 Aug. 1893-12 July 1945)

 

Fred was the son August G. and Mary Rose (Hoffman) Fischer. He had 2 sisters and 6 brothers: Mary, Clara, Edward, August, Frank, Herbert, Claude and William. He was born at Georgetown, Minn. He married Zula Lodema Barton on 26 June 1918 in Fargo, N. D. at St. Mary’s Cathedral.

 

They had 14 children: Fred, Robert, Eloise, Mary, Lyle, Vincent, Allan, John, Jerome, Charlotte, Lawrence, Arlene, Audrey and Elaine.

 

He was the owner of a successful turkey raining business on north Broadway, just over the Red River on the Minnesota side. He ran the turkey farm for 21 years prior to his death.

 

He was a veteran of World 1; the Vice-Commander of the Melvin E. Hearl American Legion Post, Moorhead, MN; the Vice-President of the Kragnes-Oakport Farm Bureau; Chairman of the School Board in District 23; and was a member of the Disabled American Veterans and the Knights of Columbus.

 

On the evening of July 7, 1945, he was driving homeward on old highway 75 north of Moorhead, MN when his car left the road, hurdled a hedge, rolled 20 feet, landing on its side in Riverside Cemetery. He was thrown from the car 20 feet. A passing motorist, Arvid Benson (owner of Arvid Benson Furniture), found him and notified police.

 

He suffered a broken back, cuts, bruises and extreme shock. There were no witnesses to the accident and no tires were blown, officials said.

 

Zula later claimed that a sticking accelerator pedal was responsible for the accident. She discounted the possibility that he may have fallen asleep while driving. Fred, his back broken and both legs paralyzed, was unable to recall any details of the accident which happened about 8 p.m.

 

He died, Thursday morning July 12, 1945, of his injuries at St. Ansgar Hospital, Moorhead, MN. The body was brought to the Houglum & Olson Funeral Home in Moorhead. He was buried in St. Joseph’s Cemetery in north Moorhead. This cemetery is located across the highway from the scene of the accident.

 

Source: The Fargo Forum (July 8-13, 1945)