The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1916-08-31
ISAAC BERG KILLED
IN AUTO ACCIDENT
Prominent Farmer and Machinery
Dealer Instantly Killed as Car
Leaves Steep Grade

farmers and machinery men of this
section of the state, met horrible
death at the st. Carl Coulee bridge
three miles southeast of the city on
the valley road Friday evening about
$50 o'clock when his new Case car
went over an embankment fourteen
feet to the coulee below.
No one saw the accident and exactly
how it happened will never be known.
Mr.. Berg had been threshing at the
Tillman Saugstad farm, six miles east
of the city, that afternoon and he
started for Minot to get supplies. He
was riding alone. Edward Nelson,
who lives in the valley was perhaps
the last man who ever saw Mr.. Berg
alive. He saw him ride past the Mel
son corn field on the level stretch of
valley road which intersects the main
road at the bridge at right angles.
Mr.. Nelson says that Mr.. Berg was
driving fairly fast but he could not see
his car at the turn. Mr.. Berg must
have slowed down as he came to the
turn for the car merely fell over and
did not shoot out as it would have
done had he been driving fast.
The car went over the embankment
and was found on it's left side at the
east end of the bridge, the front of
the car being nearly under the end
of the bridge. Mr.. Berg lay in the
water, which but foot or two deep,
with his head and shoulders clear of
the water. The car was pressing on
the chest and the theory is that he
died from asphyxiation. Another the
ory is that Mr. Berg suffered a stroke
of appoplexy or heart failure and that
he was unconscious when the car
went over the embankment Mr.. Berg
was regarded as very careful driver
and had driven a car for years. Both
hands were on the steering wheel
when the body was discovered.
Ernest Stoudt, who is connected with
the Union National bank, was the first
on the scene. Being unable to remove
the body, he went to nearby resi-
dence for help. In the meantime other
autos had come up and the machine
was pried up and the body removed.
A number of doctors rushed out to
the scene of the accident, but death
had been instantaneous and they were
powerless to do anything.
The body was brought to the city
and placed in an undertaking estab-
lishment
The funeral was held from the Unit
ed Lutheran church Sunday afternoon
at 3 o'clock The services were con-
Quoted by Rev. J. Lonne, the pastor,
and an old time friend of the deceased,
assisted by Rev. P. w. Erickson, pas
tor of the Presbyterian church. The
services were very impressive. A large
number of the friends gathered to pay
their last respects to the man they
deeply loved. 1nterment was made in
Rose Hill cemetery.
Isaac Berg was born in Norway, on
March 18, 1855, and came to this coun-
try when young man, settling IN
Otter Tail county, Mimi, where he
was engaged at the carpenters trade.
He came to Ward county in 1903 and
fled on his homestead east of the city
which he continued to farm until last
year, when he disposed of it, invest
ing in a comfortable home in Minot.
During the past nine years he had
been connected with the Case company
40 agent, handling great deal of ma
ehinery. Marius Erickson, the man.
ager, said of Mr.. Berg: II have done
business with Mr.. Berg for good
many years and I have always found
his word as good as his bond. No one
outside of his family can feel the loss
Of Mr.. Berg more than Mr.. Hanson,
the manager, or myself"
Mr.. Berg's wife died four years ago.
There are six children, Karl, one Of
the sons, is in the employ of the In
ternational Harvester company in
South America. There are four other
sons, John, Willis, George and Hjel-
ner, and one daughter, Miss Sofie,
who is employed by the Ward Fruit
company. The five children reside at
home. A brother, John Berg, resides
IN Otter Tail county, Minnesota.
Mr Berg was quiet man who made
friends everywhere. He was strictly
honest and very. Industrious. He was
a good Christian man. The members
Of his family who have the sincere
sympathy Of everyone, can get good
deal of comfort out Of the fact that
their father was one of the most high
~ respected citizens Of our communi-
ty and that his death leaves a void
that will be hard to fill.