Obit: De Forth, Benjamin E. (1881 - 1957)

Contact: Stan

Email: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: De Forth, Holmgren, Lundstrom, Ballard

----Source: THORP COURIER (Thorp, Clark County, Wis.) 11/14/1957

De Forth, Benjamin E. (23 JUL 1881 - 2 NOV 1957)

Benjamin E. De Forth, son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Peter De Forth, passed away, Nov. 2, 1957, at the Southview Nursing Home, South St. Paul, as a result of a series of paralytic strokes which began in June 1957.

Mr. De Forth was born at Thorp (Clark Co.), Wis., July 23, 1881, where he lived until he moved with his parents to St. Paul Park, Minn. in 1905.  He attended the public schools and St. Paul’s College in St. Paul Park.  He studied nursery at Taylor Falls, Minn., and later took an auctioneering course in Kansas City, Mo.

Mr. De Forth was very much interested in baseball in his younger days and, as a member of the Northwest Umpires Association, umpired many games throughout the state of Minnesota.

He and his father farmed together until 1931.  Ben was the proud possessor of various blue ribbons which he won for his prize corn exhibited at the Minnesota State Fair while he was farming.  He worked for the Minnesota State Highway Department for twenty-five years, retiring Dec. 31, 1956.

He was mayor of St. Paul from 1929 to 1932 and again from 1936 to 1940 during which time many street improvements and considerable general progress was accomplished in the village.  He worked tirelessly and faithfully for years to convert the Inver Grove Bridge from a toll bridge to a free bridge which was finally accomplished in 1938.  He has maintained his interest in local, county and state affairs and will long be remembered for his genial disposition.

Ben was a charter member of the St. Paul Volunteer Fire Department, a member of the Odd Fellows Lodge at St. Paul, the Fraternal Order of Eagles, St. Paul Aerie No. 33, and a member of the Community Congregational Church of St. Paul Park.

Dr. De Forth was united in marriage to Georgia Mae Holmgren, April 30, 1923, , and they have made their home in St. Paul Park since that time.

Funeral services were held at the Bodelson-Larson Funeral Home at St. Paul Park, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 1957, at 2 p.m. with Rev. Albert W. Fenske officiating.  Mrs. F. A. Bethke sang "Rock of Ages" and "In the Garden."  She was accompanied at the organ by Mrs. L. Cummings.

Those surviving Mr. De Forth are his wife, George; a daughter Ruth of St. Paul Park; a son, Thomas of Richmond, Calif.; two brothers, Chester W. De Forth, Glendive, Mont.; Marlyn A. De Forth, St. Paul Park; three sisters, Mrs. Caroline D. Lundstrom, Bayport, Minn.; Mrs. M. E. (Alma) Ballard, Roxbury, N.Y., and Miss Florence E. De Forth of St. Paul Park, and two grandchildren, Karen Rae and Thomas.

Relatives from out of town attending the funeral were Thomas Holmgren, Richmond, Calif., a son; Chester W. De Forth, Glendive, Mont and Mrs. Caroline D. Lundstrom, Bayport, Minn., brother and sister; Hugo and William Roesler, Chippewa Falls, Wis., and Mrs. R. W. Johnson, Minneapolis, Minn., cousins.