Surnames: Hill, Luoma, Arch, Vamstad, Kolpanen, Hendrickson, Bayuk, Stolcar, Weino, DeMaggio

----Source: OWEN ENTERPRISE (Owen, Clark County, Wis.) 05/09/1946

Luoma, Reino P. (20 JUN 1915 - 5 MAY 1946)

A head on collision between cars driven by Lillian Hill, 20, Owen, Wis. (Clark Co., Wis.), and William Arch, 25, Greenwood (Clark Co.), resulted in the death of four of the young people involved, and put five others in the Marshfield, Wisconsin Hospital, in the worst highway accident ever to occur in the county. It brings the county’s death toll for 1946 to eight.

The crash occurred at 1:45 a.m. Sunday, two miles north of Greenwood, as the occupants of the Hill car were returning home from Greenwood, where they had been for a late lunch, after having attended a dance, when they were struck head on by the Arch car.

Occupants of the two cars were: Lillian Hill, 20, Owen; Reino Luoma, 30, Withee, Helgi Hill, 31, Waukegan, Ill., and William Arch, 25 Greenwood, dead; injured, Ruth Vamstad, route 1, Owen, Reino Kolpanen, 26, Owen; Irene Hendrickson, 22, Milwaukee; Ruth Hill, 18, Owen, and William Bayuk, 30, Willard.

Lillian Hill suffered a skull fracture, fractures to her left leg and left arm, and general severe lacerations, and Reino Luoma, both of whom were dead upon arrival at the Marshfield, Wisconsin Hospital, suffered a fractured skull, fracture jaw and facial fractures.

At 10:30 p.m. Monday, William Arch, Greenwood, succumbed to his injuries, which included an intracranial hemorrhage, skull fracture, and a broken thigh and arm.

All of the injured are still in a serious condition, with exception of Reino Kolpanen. He experienced multiple contusions and abrasions, and was treated for several days at the Marshfield, Wisconsin Hospital, and is now dismissed.

Ruth Vamstad is being treated for a head injury, a compound fracture of her right thigh, a fractured jaw, severe scalp lacerations, and numerous contusions and abrasions.

Ruth Hills condition is still critical. She sustained a deep laceration to her throat and other lacerations.

Miss Irene Hendrickson, of 2677 N. Buffun St. Milwaukee, who had accompanied Helgi Hill to Owen for a weekend visit at the home of his mother, suffered a fractured left thigh and multiple contusions.

William Bayuk, 30, Willard, Arch’s companion, is reported recovering favorably from a broken jaw, possible internal injuries and multiple bruises and lacerations.

Wednesday at two o’clock, from the Finnish Lutheran Church, Owen, the saddest funeral rites ever conducted in the city, were read when Lillian and Helgi Hill and Reino Luoma were paid their final tribute by a crowd of relatives and friends that overcrowded the limited capacity of the church and filled the street. The service was conducted by Rev. L. C. Bundgaard of Withee, and interment was made in the Riverside Cemetery.

Lillian Helmi Hill was born at Owen on April 24, 1926. She attended the Moody Grad School and the Owen High School, from which she was graduated with the class of 1942. Since that time she has been employed at the Will Implement Co. as a bookkeeper.

Helgi Alvor Hill was born in Marquette, Michigan, on May 6, 1916. Early in life he moved to Owen with his parents, residing on a farm south of the city. Upon completing his schooling he returned to Marquette, Michigan, where he was employed for several years. At the outbreak of the war, he entered the armed forces and served in the Pacific theatre for four years. He received his discharge from the service in November of last year and since that time had been employed at Waukegan, Ill.

Lillian and Helgi leave to mourn, their mother, Mrs. Ida Hill, two sisters, Ruth of Owen, and Mrs. (Helen) Joe Stolcar, Waukegan, Ill., and a brother, Hugo, also of Waukegan, and a host of friends.

Reino Pellervo Luoma was born in DeKalb, Ill., on June 20, 1915. On Sept. 5, 1924, he moved with his parents to a farm south of Owen, where he resided until two years ago, at which time his parents sold the farm and purchased a residence in the Village of Withee. For the past two years he had been employed as a mechanic by the Will Implement Co. of this city.

His death is mourned by his parents, three sisters, Mrs. Carl (Lennea) Hill, Withee; Mrs. John (Ella) DeMaggio, and Lorraine of DeKalb, Ill., two nieces and a nephews, one aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Weino, Owen, and a host of friends.

Pallbearers at the service were: J. Barager, H. Lehnen, W. Catura, W. Wilson, C. Knaach, E. Gabriel, F. Wills, W. Mutka, A. Mutka, wm. Maki, Toive Makkinen, Ouni Kangas, Ralph Miller, Carl Sillampa, Ben Hill, Reuben Hill and two from out of town, who’s names were not obtained.

Flower Girls: Katherine Zivney, Sylvia Hutter, Mrs. Matt Bombach, Miss Mutka, Mrs. Eldred Havelin, Miss Ristala, Mrs. Leslie Buss, Irene Halme, Helga Makkinen, Lily Maki.

Services for William Arch, Greenwood, will be conducted from the Holy Family Church, Willard, Friday at 10 a.m.