Sentimental Sunday - Richard Raymond Slowey

Dickie Slowey 1939-1945

Dickie Slowey is a granduncle I never knew.  He was my grandmother's youngest brother.  My great grandmother had him late in life (age 44).  My grandmother was 17 when he was born.  He lived a short life, but I could tell when my grandmother talked about him that he experienced a full lifetime of love from his family.


The first article (from the Yankton Press & Dakotan) is actually the announcement of his 6th birthday (March 9, 1945), but I wanted to include it because it is so close in time to his obituary (March 23, 1945):

Dickey Enjoys Fine Birthday Even If Sick


Little Dickey Ray Slowey, who has been confined to Sacred Heart hospital here for many weeks suffering from a malady diagnosed as leukemia, was today celebrating his sixth birthday.  He was a happy boy indeed with gifts from many people and attentions from all around.


Dickey Ray is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Tom Slowey, 812 Douglas Avenue, and mother was with him today.  In fact, mother has been with him almost constantly since he was attacked by the strange malady for which there appears to be no remedy.  The lad was feeling quite well today and was able to enjoy his birthday anniversary to the fullest.


DICKIE SLOWEY PASSES TODAY
Boy Victim of Leukemia To Be Buried Here On Monday

Leukemia, mysterious blood disease about which little is known in medical science, claimed the life of six-year-old Richard Raymond Slowey, son or Mr. and Mrs. Tom Slowey, 812 Douglas avenue early today.  The lad had been ill a number of weeks, and his death occurred at 4:00 a.m., in Sacred Heart hospital.


"Dickie," as he was known to all his acquaintances, observed his sixth birthday in the hospital on March 9, and throughout his illness, he maintained a cheerful disposition and enjoyed the company of his callers.


The boy is survived by his parents, one brother, Vernon who is serving in the Pacific theater of war, and four sisters, Mrs. Donald E. Perry, Mrs. Edw. Lanctot, and Lois and Rita at home.


Funeral services have been set for 9:30 a.m., Monday, from Sacred Heart church with the Rev. Msgr. L. Link officiating, and rosary will be said at the Burke Funeral Home at 8 p.m., Sunday.

Ed Lanctot & Dickie Slowey

They're in the Army now ...

This is another newspaper article that was published in the Yankton Press & Dakotan, probably around mid-1940 (the 147th wasn't called into federal action until about November 1941).  I am transcribing all of these names in hopes that their names will pop up on an internet search if someone is looking for them.  I am happy to email a digital copy of this article to anyone who needs it.

Over 100 Local Officers And Men Leave Today With Guard


Here are the 101 officers and men who compose the roster of Battery "E," local National Guard unit, which is leaving today for Camp Ord, Calif., to become a part of the greatest peacetime army in United States history.


Captain
Chester A. Beaver, Commanding Officer


First Lieutenants
Ott Kabeiseman
Carl Youngworth


Second Lieutenants
Robert Seeley
Donald Perry (who would later marry my grandmother's sister, Elinor, becoming yet another granduncle)


First Sergeant
Earl G. Schlegelmilch, Tabor


Staff Sergeant
Lawrence Nelson


Sergeants
Arnold F. Albrecht, Mission Hill
Richard R. Cacek, Tabor
Lyle E. Hamner
Paul A. Jacobsen
Elwood G. Jorgensen, Irene
Harry J. King, Tabor
Lewis A. Van Osdel


Corporals
Thomas P. Binder, Tabor
William E. Brewer, Miranda
McKie Eastman
Robert F. Haney
Donald L. Jones
Lawrence H. Kaiser
Elmer L. Kamback
Harold B. Nelson
Edgar D. Ollermann
Dale W. Sly, Tabor
Ralph O. Stengle


Privates --- First Class
Francis J. Albrecht, Mission Hill
Ben J. Blazek, Tabor
Robert Blazek, Tabor
Elvin J. Hammeren
Thomas V. Rogers
Willard W. Welfl, Tabor


Privates
Harold J. Bahr
Robert F. Bartow
William J. Cacek, Tabor
Kenneth R. Canfield
Elwood H. Carlson, Alexandria
Kenneth E. Christensen, Mission Hill
Charles L. Cokeley, Tyndall
Donald J. Colgan, Tyndall
Clarence L. Cowman
Frank Den Ouden, Springfield
Grant Ferguson, Tyndall
George Giesen, Stickney
Paul A. Grosshuesch, Scotland
Clarence F. Haas
Ralph J. Haas
Frank G. Haberer
John R. Halla
Clifford H. Hicks
John H. Hoaglin, Springfield
Dural L. Hodge, Farmer
Carl J. Hohenthaner
Willard Holbrook
Gerhard J. Hunhoff, Utica
Robert H. Johnson
Albert A. Kaiser
David Kasdan
Fred J. Kessler
Theodore Q. Kessler, Springfield
Laddie F. Kucera, Tabor
James L. Lanctot (my granduncle)
Edward J. Lanctot (my grandfather)
Harvey J. Lokken
Lauren L. Lokken
John S. Lubbers
Charles K. Mahan
Bruce E. Mahr
Donald L. McCabe
Lester M. Mielke, Menno
Robert W. Mielenz
Harold J. Modereger
Donald G. Modereger
Howard W. Nelson
Robert E. Novotny, Tabor
Lyle F. Peterson, Rapid City
Clarence E. Pishek, Tabor
Alvin J. Reker, Lismore, Minn.
Robert R. Ritts
Raymond J. Rossman
John D. Sabatka, Tabor
Albert A. Sadler, Mission Hill
Norman J. Schuett, Tyndall
Kenneth J. Schulte
Leon T. Scoblic, Tyndall
Charles L. Showers, Mission Hill
Vernon G. Slowey, Utica (my granduncle)
Vernett S. Stortvedt, Volin
Harry R. Talbot
John W. Trierweiler
Norman A. Trotter, Scotland
Leland L. Truesdell, Burke
Wilmar E. VanderKooi, Springfield
Henry H. Voll, Mission Hill
John W. Vollmer
LeVerne Whiting
Harold F. Winters
Joe F. Wuestewald


All men whose addresses are not given are registered as residents of Yankton.


Lieutenant Carl Youngworth has now been officially attached to Battery "E."  Private George W. Coates of Vermillion is reported to be in Oregon and all attempts to notify him of the mobilization have failed up to the present time.  As soon as he is contacted he will join the Battery at Camp Ord.