The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1906-04-13
Walter B. Saunders.

'In the midst of life we are in
death,' are the words of Holy
Writ, and this truth is constant.
ly being impressed upon us by
the messenger death as he
stalks in our midst and is so of.
ten found placing his icy touch
upon the vigorous manhood of
some one who seems to have be-
tore him many years of useful
life. But few months ago and
in any gathering of the men OF
Milbank, Mr.. w. B. Saunders
would have been probably the
last man in the gathering whom
anyone would have thought was
to be so soon called from earth.
1t was barely six months since
the disease which proved fatal,
commenced to manifest itself,
but he continued at his place of
business in the bank until two
months ago, when he went tothe
Hot Springs, Ark, in hope of Sc.
curing relief. He was later TAX
en- to Rochester and Northwest.
ern hospital at Minneapolis, but
the disease-retroperitoneal sar-
coma-was then beyond medical
help, and the only thing that
could be done was as far as pos
sible to alleviate thepain incident
to his disease, and at about 6
o'clock on the evening of Thurs.
day, April 5th, he breathed his
last. The remains we're brought
home on Friday evening, large
gathering of the friends being at
the depot to show the respect
they felt for their departed fell
low-citizen.
The funeral services were held
on Monday afternoon, Bishop
Frederick Foote johnson off ciat-
ing, assisted by the rector of the
Episcopal church in this city,
Rev. H. Nelson Tragitt, a short
service being held at the home
and public service in the Con.
gregational church. The Ma
sonic fraternity, of which Mr..
Saunders was an active and hon.
ored member, attended the fun
eral in a body, and some thirty
Knights Templar from Aber.
deen and other points acted as
escort. During the service at
the church. a trio consisting of
Doctors Ferguson and Ross and
Mr.. F. Schneider rendered a
chant and sang LEAD Kindly
Light. Rev. Mr.. Tragitt read the
scripture lesson and Bishop
Johnson spoke a few words of
comfort to the mourning, and of
tribute to the life that had gone
out, the bishop reading the fol-
lowing, which was prepared by
Rev. Mr.. Tragitt, the pastor of
the deceased man:
We are gathered together this AFTER
noon to pay our last tribute to one
who was near and dear to us. Forty
seven year ago our brother was born
in Cattaraugus Co., N. Y. In his
early manhood he emigrated from
New York and for the past twenty
three years was closely identified with
the west. When he first came here Mil
bank was but prairie, and he saw the
town grow and develop from a tiny
village to its present prosperous con-
dition. He was always on the side of
advancement, and was ever promi-
nently interested in the town for good.
From the first day to the last he has
been benefactor to many. He was a
man in the fullest sense of the word;
alleviate suffering. The half he has
done will never be known: in
many home his name is and will be
revered and honored. A loving and
kind husband and father, and man
of good attachments has gone to his
rest and reward. His name is as a
perfume, sweet smelling savor.
Those who knew him will ever remem-
ber him. His family and rela-
tives will ever cherish him and emulate
his example. And what more shall |
say but this she is not dead but
sleepeth." 1t is not our intention to
eulogize our brother, such would be
out of place and contrary to his wish
es. Therefore it behooves MS to leave
him and his deeds to his Maker, land
not to sorrow as men without hope'
for the day will come when we too
shall join'that innumerable carava an.
Death comes to all; to some earlier,
to some later. Such trite sayings fall
upon our ears unheeded. But when
death comes near to us, then is our
pulse qutckened and our thoughts
aroused. Then we are made aware that
no man knOweth his own end; and we
should so prepare ourselves that Shen
the summons come we can lie down
to rest and peace, in the full assur-
ance that we have done what we
could.
At the conclusion of the church
commi:tal service at the grave,
the funeral honors of the Mason.
ic craft were rendered by Mil.
ho nE 1ndno o~l e~se;%sun Maeonc -