A sad gloom was thrown over the town and community Tuesday, October 3rd, when the unwelcome news reached here that Mrs. Ed Molter of Hayes Township, Crawford County had passed away in the hospital in Carroll after a lingering illness.

A family is mourning the loss of a loving heart, wife and mother, and thereby creating a vacancy that bleeds with constant anguish and sorrow. A life that held within its bosom sunshine and unselfish love for all who were near, has flown from the home that was so dear to her presence. In the years when a family needs a mother the most, and when her motherly mission on earth had barely begun, she was called home to her reward.

Lena Wilhelmine Pruter was born in Hayes Township, Crawford County, November 9th, 1887. She spent her childhood days on the farm and grew there to young womanhood. On December 22nd, 1909, she was united in marriage to Mr. Ed Molter, to which union one son was born. Shortly after their marriage the young couple moved to Egan, South Dakota, where they settled on a farm and toiled there faithfully until 1930, when they returned to Iowa and settled on a farm north of Manning.

Several years ago Mrs. Molter's health began to fail and she was placed under the care of specialists who performed several operations. In May 1933, it was deemed necessary to remove her to a hospital and place her under special care and she was taken to St. Anthony's hospital in Carroll where special efforts were made to restore her former health but to no avail. Although she made a strong battle for recovery, her family and friends soon found that it was in vain. Special efforts, ways and means were applied to comfort her in her declining days until she passed away at the age of 45 years, 10 months and 24 days.

She leaves to mourn her untimely .death her bereaved husband Ed Molter, and son Herbert; her parents, Mr. and Mrs. F.W. Pruter of Manning; two brothers, Frank and Julius Pruter of Westside, and one sister, Emma, Mrs. Walter Miller of Manning. She also leaves her mother-in-law, Mrs. Emelie Molter, and many other relatives and friends.

The funeral services were held Saturday, October 7, 1933, at 2:00 o'clock, at the Ohde Funeral home, the Reverend John M. Ansorge officiating. The earthly remains were tenderly laid to rest in the Manning cemetery, attended by a large concourse of relatives and friends.

As pallbearers acted Carl Piper, Dick Gehlsen, Henry Hagge, Louie Thiedeman, Henry Schumann, and John Oeser.

The sympathy of the entire community goes out to the bereaved ones in the loss of so beloved a member of their family. May peace abide with her forever.

Relatives from a distance attending the funeral were: Mr. and Mrs. George Hansen of Walnut; Mrs. Ella Pruter and son Franz of Chicago; Mr. Walter Borkowski of Chicago; Mrs. Sena Kuhn of Kansas City, Missouri; Mr. and Mrs. Peter Gehlsen and son of Elkton, South Dakota, and Mr. and Mrs. August Schroeder of Egan, South Dakota.