Kenneth Bernard Anderson
Obituaries
Eagle Valley Enterprise page 1 - December 11, 1952
Kenneth B. Anderson, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Anderson, was born at Gypsum, July 22, 1922. He attended grade and high school there; taking an active part in school sports. After finishing school, he spent several years as a range rider and entered military service with his boyhood friend, Bob Stevenson. In April 1943, he was wounded in Germany and received the Purple Heart. He received is discharge August 5, 1945. He returned to his work as a ranger rider, coming back to his hometown from the service. He is survived by his parents; one sister, Joyce Walcher, and her husband, Ernest Walcher, a nephew, Danny and a niece, Janet; also his paternal grandmother, Mrs. Christine Anderson of Tacoma, Wash. Out of town relatives attending the funeral were William Ferguson and son, Lewis of Portola, CA and Mr. and Mrs. Bob Proctor and Glen Lewis of Greeley. The Burdge Mortuary of Glenwood Springs assisted by Bowman Funeral chapel of Eagle, were in charge of burial. Rev. Delbert Paulson oft he Methodist Church delivered the funeral sermon and the military funeral was conducted by Eagle River Valley Post 150, American Legion.
Eagle Valley Enterprise page 1 - December 4, 1952
Bob Stevenson - Kenneth Anderson Killed in Tragic Accident
Two Gypsum young men, who went through sehodl together, joined the arrav together, and who had been inseparable pals, died -together in a tragedy which took th e lives of three other persons in”Glenwood Canon Saturday night- Friday they will be buried together, when military services are held in their home town. Robert Stevenson and Kenneth Anderson, both 30, died in a car crash, near Hanging Lake sometime Saturday night, when the car driven by Mel Montano of Eagle, crashed through guard rails into ice covered Colorado river, carrying five persons to their deathIn the car were Mr Stevenson’s mother-in-law, Mrs- Ella Smelcer also of Gypsum and Frances and Charlotte Martinez, Glcnwood Springs sisters- Montano is in a critical condition in a Glcnwood hospital, suffering from pneumonia. fractured shoulders and broken ribsMr- Stevenson and Mrs. Smelcer had been in Glcnwood with Mrs. Stevenson who had given birth to a son Saturday in a Glcnwood hospital- With their car broken down, they found a ride back to Gypsum with Mr. Montano, Kenneth Anderson and the two Martinez girlsMontano told Garfield county officers that the lights on his car went out on the curve iust east of Hanging Lake, and he lost control- The car, according to District Attorney Robert Delaney smashed through four guard rail posts, hurtled 38 feet through the air and crashed through 18 inches of ice. The driver escaped from the car, and according to his statement, was refused a ride by a passing motorist- He walked
back to Hanging Lake, where he sought refuge with a sheepherdcr in a cabin near the main residence at Hanging Lake- He stated that when he told the sheepherder his car was in the river, the man said they would look into the accident in the morning Hanging Lake Cafe is closed for the winter season, but the liquor store and filling station is still operated, and the owners live in a house near the place of business and the sheepherders cabinWhen the two men awoke about 9 am., the accident was reported, and the tragic death of Montano’s five passenger’s was discovered. Mr. Stevenson’s body was found half out of the water, near the river bank. He had removed his trousers and shoes in his attempt to swim to shoreThe car was located and raised Monday, and Mr. Anderson's body was found in the back seat A search, in which a professional diver from Caspar, Wyo. joined, was conducted throughout the week by the state patrol and Garfield county officers, in a fruitless attempt to recover the bodies of tfce three women The search was abandoned tonight. Charges of manslaughter and reckless driving have been filed agaihst Montano, who admitted having ’’a few beers’’ before leaving Glemvood for the return trip to his home in Eagle. He has a wife and three small renA double military funeral will be conducted in Gypsum Friday afternoon at the American Legion Hall for Bob and Kenneth, and they will be buried in Gypsum The boys are both only sons —Bob, the son of Mr. and Mrs Nnblo Stevenson of Cottonwood, prominent county ranchers. He
is survived by his wife, Betty; a .-mall stepson, his new son, and a' sister. Kenneth is the son of Lily. Anderson and John Anderson of Gypsum, and is survived by his parents and a sister, Joyce-
Eagle Valley Enterprise page 1 - December 11, 1952
MILITARY FUNERAL HELD FOR ACCIDENT VICTIMS
A military funeral was given Kenneth Anderson and Robert Stevenson who died when the oar in which they were riding went into the Colorado River, 10 miles east of Olenwood Nov- 30 Three other persons, Elma Smcilcer, mother-in-law to MrStevenson; and Charlotte and Frances Martinez, Glonwood sisters. also lost their lives- Search for their bodies was abandoned Tuesday night, by four Navy divers, flown in from Great Lakes, 111. to aid in search of the river bottom.
The Gypsum men had been inseparable pals since early childhood. Robert Lee Stevenson was born at Atwood. Kansas, May 29, 1922 to Mr. and Mrs- Noble Stevenson. He grew to manhood on the Stevenson ranch near Gypsum, attending the Gypsum Valley rural school and the Gypsum town schorl, serving in the Army Air Force in World War 11. He joined the service April. 1943, and served overseas in England and France with an airborne division. When he received his discharge he returned the family ranch to enter business wirah his father. Aug- 10, 1951, Bob w"as married in Leadviile to Elizabeth Schneff. A son was born to the young couple the day before the father’s death. He is survived by his wife, Betty, one step-son Johnny, and infant son, Stephen Gene; his parents, Mr. and Mrs- Noble Stev enson. Gypsum; a sister, Lois and a brother-in-law. Dean Walker, a niece and nephew, Karen Sue and Lary Dean of Grand Junction: his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs O W. Stevenson of Tacoma, Wash., and his maternal grandmother. Mrs- L E- Thompson of Atwood, Korvs. Relatives able to be present at the funeral were Mr and Mrs. Frank Hoover and Etta Bacon of Atwood; Mr. and Mrs- Friend Stevenson, and family of Tribune, Kans. Kenneth B Anderson, son of Mr. and Mrs John Anderson was born at Gypsum, July 22, 1922He attended grade and high school there, taking an active part in school sports. After finishing school, he spent several years as a range rider and entered military service with his boyhood friend, Bob Stevenson, in April. 1943. Ho was wounded in Germany, and received the Purple Heart He received his discharge Aug- 5. 1945. He returned to his work as a range rider, coming back to his home town from the service. He is survived by his parents: one’sister, Jovce Watcher and her husband, Ernest Walcher, a nephew, Danny and a neice, Janet; also his paternal grandmother, Mrs- Christine Anderson of Tacoma. Wash. Out of town relatives attending the funeral were Wm. Ferguson and son, Lewis of Portola, Calif-, Mr and Mrs- Bob Proctor and Glen Lewis of Greeley. The Burdge Mortuary of Gionwood Springs, assisted by Bowman Funeral Chapel of Eagle, were in charge of burial. Rev. Delibert Paulson of the Methodist Church delivered the funeral sermon and the military funeral Was conducted by Eagle River Valley Post 150, American Legion-
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 4 - December 9, 1952
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 1 - December 1, 1952
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 1 & 5 - January 3, 1953
