12/27/2019
DID YOU KNOW……..
A look back at early area history as found in early newspapers and the archives of the Enderlin Historical Society and Museum ……… by Susan Schlecht
Museum website: www.enderlinmuseum.org
The following article was sent to me by a former Enderlin resident, LaRon (Wavra) Croft, who found it among old memorabilia. It was first published in The Seattle Times and then reprinted in The Enderlin Independent. Since the article did not have an exact date on it, we are guessing the incident occurred in about 1954.
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Former Enderlin Girl Saves Trucker from Death in Lake
A former Enderlin girl, Valerie Wold, 17 now living in Everett, Wash., recently saved the life of a trucker after his pickup skidded and plunged into a lake.
Valerie, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Leslie Wold, was born in Enderlin and went to school here until the family moved to Washington eight years ago. She is a granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Martin Boyle of Sheldon and a niece of Mrs. Phil Shelver of Enderlin.
Following is the account of the rescue as published in The Seattle Times.
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By Robert Heilman, Times Staff Correspondent
Everett, January 20 – A 220-pound trucking-firm operator leaned over to deliver a hug and kiss as his way of giving thanks because the young lady saved his life.
Wayne Wells, 33-year-old Ephrata trucker, delivered the kiss in behalf of his wife and three children, especially the newest Wells youngster, born just 13 days ago.
Recipient of the kiss, Valerie Wold, 17, for once was speechless when Wells called on her and her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Leslie A. Wold.
“I wouldn’t be breathing this bright, clear air if it hadn’t been for your daughter,” said Wells.
Valerie was the first to swim out into Silver Lake, about 7 miles southeast of here, when a pickup truck driven by Wells skidded on ice, hit a parked automobile in which the girl and others had been riding, caromed off a utility pole and plunged into the lake.
Valerie was a member of a sledding party which included a group of Everett High School pupils. Among them were Mrs. Pat Wall, 19, of Beverly Park, a suburb of Everett, and Frank Dietrich, 17, Everett High School junior, who assisted in the rescue.
“I took a deep breath before I hit, and I got through the window as the truck was going down,” said Wells. “The first thing I remember after that was being grabbed by this girl.”
Exhausted, Valerie was in trouble until young Dietrich, pushing Mrs. Wall aside, plunged into the water and dragged Wells the rest of the way to shore. Mrs. Wall had waded into the water before the others had time to remove their heavy clothing.
Wells, cited for negligent driving, was not injured n the crash.
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Sue’s Comments: According to the 1940 US Census, the Leslie Wold family lived on Bluff Street in Enderlin. Valerie was born in 1937 and would have been about 9 years old when the family moved to Washington state in about 1946. Valerie’s mom was the former Eloise Boyle.