Home > United States of America > South Dakota > Gregory County > Gregory > IOOF Cemetery > Zola Ellen “Ella” Knox Bahr

Zola Ellen “Ella” Knox Bahr

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Birth	:	23 Nov 1920 Gregory, Gregory County, South Dakota, USA
Death	:	24 Sep 1953 Minnekahta, Fall River County, South Dakota, USA
Burial	:	IOOF Cemetery, Gregory, Gregory County, USA
Coordinate	:	43.2380000, -99.4480000
Plot	:	Plot 4 Section 73 Row 3 Grave 5
Description	:	Mother and Two Daughters Perish in Fire Thursday The community was saddened last week by the news of a triple tragedy in which Mrs. Volney Bahr and her two daughters perished in a fire which destroyed their home at Minnekahta, about 12 miles from Hot Springs. Mr. Bahr narrowly escaped death after he was overcome by smoke after passing their two sons to safety through the window. Mr. and Mrs. Bahr lived above the building which housed a store and a restaurant combination which they operated at Minnekahta. The family retired at about 10 Thursday... Read More	Mother and Two Daughters Perish in Fire Thursday The community was saddened last week by the news of a triple tragedy in which Mrs. Volney Bahr and her two daughters perished in a fire which destroyed their home at Minnekahta, about 12 miles from Hot Springs. Mr. Bahr narrowly escaped death after he was overcome by smoke after passing their two sons to safety through the window. Mr. and Mrs. Bahr lived above the building which housed a store and a restaurant combination which they operated at Minnekahta. The family retired at about 10 Thursday evening and at about 10:45 Volney woke to find the upstairs apartment filled with smoke. He awakened the entire family and gathered them together and started for the stairway. The bottom of the stairway was already on fire so they turned and found their way to the window. At the window, Volney opened it, and dropped the boys, Charles, 11, and David, 7, to the ground. As he dropped David he was overcome and became unconscious falling across the window sill. Neighbors living nearby arrived at the scene at this time and managed to get a ladder to the window. They removed Volney from the window but, by this time the entire upstairs had burst into flames and they could not help the others. Volney was severely burned in several places on his body (nearly 50% of the back of the body) and he also suffered from smoke inhalation which both boys suffered also and David broke his right wrist (from the ladder being set on it . Mrs. Bahr was well known and liked in this community having spent much of her life here. Her cheerful disposition winning personality and genuine spirit will be sincerely missed by all who knew her. It is believed that the fire started in the kitchen part of the downstairs. The entire building burned. A very large crowd estimated to be near 500 persons attended the funeral services held Wednesday afternoon at 2 p.m. at the Gregory Methodist Church. Rev. John DeVries officiated. A memorial services was held Monday at the Edgemont Congregational Church with the Rev. G. W. Sietsema officiating. Burial was a the IOOF Cemetery, Gregory, SD. Zola was baptized in the Methodist faith when an infant and was united with the church when a young girl. Zola Ellen Knox, daughter of Margaret and Fred Knox, was born November 23,1920 at Gregory, SD, and passed away in the fire that destroyed their home the night of September 24, 1953, at the age of 32 years, 10 months. Zola grew to young womanhood in this area, attending Dallas grade school, and Chamberlain High School. She was united in marriage to Volney Bahr on October 27, 1940. Four children were born to this union. Two sons: Charles Volney, 11, and David Robert, 7, and two daughters, who perished with their mother, Kathryn Ellen, 8, and Karen Zola, 4. At the time of their marriage, the young couple moved to a farm south of Dallas where they remained until 1947, when they moved to a farm near Gann Valley, SD. In March of 1953 they moved to Minnekahta and operated the grocery store and lunch room there. Surviving besides her husband and two sons and parents are: two sisters, Mrs. Oleva (Arthur) Wenzel of Chamberlain, SD, and Mrs. Laurel (Everett) Gray of Bijou Hills, SD: and Three brothers: Louis, Raymond, and Roger Knox all of Chamberlain. Kathyrn Ellen and Karen Zola Bahr, young daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Volney Bahr, perished with their mother in the fire of September 24, 1953. Kathyrn was born at Gregory, SD on July 17, 1945 and was 8 years and two months of age when she passed away. She was the third grade student at the Minnekahta school. Karen was born at Chamberlain on September 15, 1949 in Chamberlain, SD and was 4 years and 9 days old at the time of her death. Both were baptized in the Methodist church.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Zola Ellen “Ella” Knox Bahr's memorial?
Zola Ellen “Ella” Knox Bahr's memorial is located at: IOOF Cemetery, Gregory, Gregory County, USA.
When did Zola Ellen “Ella” Knox Bahr death?
Zola Ellen “Ella” Knox Bahr death on 24 Sep 1953 in Minnekahta, Fall River County, South Dakota, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Zola Ellen “Ella” Knox Bahr's memorial?
Latitude: 43.2380000
Longitude: -99.4480000

Family Members:

Parent

Frederick Raymond Knox

(1890 - 1962)

Margaret Ellen Reetz Knox

(1895 - 1973)

Spouse

Siblings

Oleva Christine Knox Wenzel

(1916 - 1976)

Louis Henry Knox

(1917 - 1979)

Raymond F Knox

(1919 - 2002)

Children

Kathryn Ellen Bahr

(1945 - 1953)

Karen Zola Bahr

(1949 - 1953)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. IOOF Cemetery
Gregory, Gregory County, USA
Coordinate: 43.2380000, -99.4480000

2. Saint Joseph Cemetery
Gregory, Gregory County, USA
Coordinate: 43.2202988, -99.4338989

3. Czech National Cemetery
Gregory, Gregory County, USA
Coordinate: 43.2118988, -99.4636002

4. Dallas Hillview Cemetery
Dallas, Gregory County, USA
Coordinate: 43.2271996, -99.5310974

5. Saint Augustine Catholic Cemetery
Dallas, Gregory County, USA
Coordinate: 43.2263940, -99.5334467

6. Evangelical Zion Lutheran Cemetery
Dallas, Gregory County, USA
Coordinate: 43.1401970, -99.5147400

7. Graceland Cemetery
Burke, Gregory County, USA
Coordinate: 43.1847000, -99.3022003

8. Sacred Heart Cemetery
Burke, Gregory County, USA
Coordinate: 43.1507988, -99.2913971

9. Dixon Cemetery
Gregory County, USA
Coordinate: 43.3932991, -99.4738998

10. Sully Cemetery
Lucas, Gregory County, USA
Coordinate: 43.2770000, -99.2380000

11. Peace Cemetery
Gregory County, USA
Coordinate: 43.0816994, -99.3946991

12. Gregory County Home Cemetery
Gregory, Gregory County, USA
Coordinate: 43.1253014, -99.2866974

13. Saint Johns Catholic Cemetery
Paxton, Gregory County, USA
Coordinate: 43.0823490, -99.5336010

14. Johnson Family Cemetery
Gregory County, USA
Coordinate: 43.1755028, -99.2228660

15. Lucas Cemetery
Lucas, Gregory County, USA
Coordinate: 43.2991560, -99.2189780

16. Lucas Catholic Cemetery
Lucas, Gregory County, USA
Coordinate: 43.3005981, -99.2193985

17. Petersen Cemetery
Burke, Gregory County, USA
Coordinate: 43.2539558, -99.1770172

18. Saint Isidore Catholic Cemetery
Colome, Tripp County, USA
Coordinate: 43.2638200, -99.7223800

19. Colome Cemetery
Colome, Tripp County, USA
Coordinate: 43.2638245, -99.7223816

20. Herrick Cemetery
Herrick, Gregory County, USA
Coordinate: 43.1110000, -99.1970000

21. Brozik Family Cemetery
Dixon, Gregory County, USA
Coordinate: 43.4599755, -99.3854681

22. Mniska Presbyterian Cemetery
Bull Creek Township, Tripp County, USA
Coordinate: 43.4593800, -99.5531500

23. Gibson Cemetery
Tripp County, USA
Coordinate: 43.0642014, -99.6908035

24. Rock Valley Cemetery
Wewela, Tripp County, USA
Coordinate: 43.0641300, -99.6918100