John Henry Deetjen

Henry Deetjen Dies Suddenly Sunday Morning

Death came suddenly to Henry Deetjen, 72, at 11:00 a. m. Sunday Feb. 23 as he sat in a chair in the lobby of the Lusk Hotel, conversing with L. R. Van Tassell.

Mr. and Mrs. Deetjen have been making their home in Hot Springs, S. Dakota for the past year and about three weeks ago Mr. Deetjen came to Lusk for medical treatments. Mrs. Deetjen happened to be here at the time having come to Lusk on Saturday intending to remain over Sunday.

For the past 35 years Mr. and Mrs. Deetjen have made Lusk their home and raised their family here.

Mr. Deetjen was born in Oldinburg, Germany in August 1875 and came to the United States when 16 years of age and lived at Mankota, Minn., for several years. In 1910 he returned to Europe and in 1911 was married to Emily Marie Sullivan at Liverpool, England. They sailed for the United States, landing in New York where they lived for a short time and then came to Cheyenne arriving there July 19, 1911 and in short time came to Lusk where Mr. Deetjen secured employment on a ranch.

Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Deetjen, two dying in infancy. The other six, with his wife survive him. They are three daughters, Mrs. Lillian Holcomb of Salem, Oregon, Mrs. Leona Brown, Denver, Colo., and Mrs. Dorothy Keiber, Lovington, New Mexico, and three sons, Arthur of Olney, Ill, George of Lusk and Henry, Jr., Hot Springs, So. Dakota.

Nine grandchildren also survive him.

Funeral services were held at the Peet Chapel on Wednesday afternoon at 2:30 with Rev. Lawrence P. Juell officiating. Music was furnished by Mrs. H. J. Templeton as soloist accompanied by Mrs. Gerald Bardo.

The casket bearers were A. C. Tibbitts, J. P. Costlow, Don Taylor, Will Bonsell, Lee Penn and Chester Flick. Interment was made in the Lusk Cemetery.

Thon Book 9
John Henry Deetjen Called Sunday While Talking to Friend in Hotel; Final Services Conducted Wednesday

Death has stilled the voice of John Henry Deetjen, resident of this locality for the past 35 years. Mr. Deetjen, a guest at the Lusk hotel, was sitting in the lobby of the Lusk hotel visiting with an old friend, L. R. Van Tassell, when he suddenly collapsed. He was dead before a physician could reach him. Mrs. Deetjen, who had gone to attend the anniversary observance at the Congregational church, was called immediately. She had but a few moments before left her husband at the hotel.

Mr. Deetjen had been afflicted with a heart ailment and had been under treatment for some time. He also had undergone an operation at Hot Springs, S. Dak., last fall, which is believed to have somewhat weakened his already failing health.

Surviving besides his wife Emily Marie, are six children, Mrs. Lillian Holcomb, of Salem, Ore.; Mrs. Leona Brown, of Denver, Colo.; Arthur Deetjen, Olney, Ill.; George of Lusk, Wyo.; Mrs. Dorothy Kleiber, Lovington, New Mex., and Henry Jr., who for three years has been confined in the Battle Mountain sanitarium at Hot Springs, S. Dak.

Concluding services were conducted from the chapel of the Peet funeral home in this city at 2:30 o'clock, Wednesday, February 25th, Rev. Lawrence P. Juell, pastor of the Congregational church, officiating. Mrs. H. J. Templeton, vocalist, offered "Beautiful Isle of Somewhere" during the chapel rites, with accompaniment by Mrs. Gerald Bardo at the organ.

Interment was in the Lusk cemetery, the remains of the deceased being borne to their final resting place by A. C. Tibbitts, Lee Penn, Wm. H. Bonsell, J.P. Costlow, Don Taylor and Chester Flick.

John Henry Deetjen was born August 30, 1874 at Oldenburg, Germany, a son of Gerhard and Marie Dunn Deetjen. When a lad of 16 years he came to the United States, going to Mankato, Minn., where he lived for several years.

In 1910 he was called back to his native home to settle an estate, and while in Liverpool, England, he met Miss Emily Marie Sullivan, to whom he was married in the Episcopalian church at Liverpool on April 19, 1911. shortly after their marriage they crossed the Atlantic to make their home and seek their fortune in this country.

That same year they came west to Cheyenne, near where Mr. Deetjen secured employment on the Crow Creek ranch. They remained there for several months, then moving up to Lusk, where their first three children were born. They later homesteaded on the place now owned by John Alter, where they resided for 11 years.

Coming to Lusk at the end of that time they made their home here until about a year ago when they moved to Hot Springs, S. Dak., in order to be near their son confined in the Veterans hospital.

They had made the trip to this city for the especial purpose of attending the church anniversary celebration coming to Lusk Saturday. Mrs. Deetjen declared to his wife that he did not feel like walking to the church, but insisted that she attend. His sudden death shortly after she had left the hotel found him to have reached the age of 72 years, 5 months and 24 days.

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