Large Attendance of People To Pay Last Respects To Soldier Boy

The first time this community has been called upon to pay honor to the dead in those who are either defending or preparing to defend our country from the possibility of autocracy rule, came when the remains of Otto Semerud were laid away Saturday of last week.

An account of the death of this noble young man appeared in the Standard last week, but at that time the date of the funeral could not be stated as the date of the expected arrival of the body could not be learned. The bereaved family received a telegram Friday, however, stating that the body would arrive that day.

The local Home Guards made arrangements for due observance of the sad event. On West Main street the large Service flag was displayed, above it appearing the Stars and Stripes at half mast, while on East Main street floated a large American flag, appropriately draped. Captain F. Alfred Kretsch, representing the Home Guards, met the corpse at the train. During the hours of the funeral all the business houses in the village were closed.

The funeral took place Saturday afternoon. Services were held at the residence at 1:30, and later at the Norwegian Lutheran church in Camp. Rev. Ronglie and Rev. Hanson conducted the services.

The Home Guards attended the funeral in a body and marched from the residence to the church, preceding the hearse. At the grave taps were sounded as the casket was lowered. The pall bearers were all members of the Home Guards and were personal friends of the deceased. They were: Ole Nelson, Einer Nelson, S. H. Gumpolen, E. A. Enger, Peter Jensen, H. E. Grasmoen.

The body was accompanied from Camp Hancock, Georgia, by Sergt. Armstrong, who remained here until after the funeral.

The American flag, which was draped over the box containing the casket, and which was supplied by the Government to accompany the corpse, was left with Mr. and Mrs. Semerud, and will be preserved and cherished by them as an emblem of the worthy cause in which their beloved son died.

Otto Semerud was born May 29, 1891, at the home where his parents still reside, and died at Camp Hancock, Georgia, Oct 5, 1918, aged 27 years, 4 months, 6 days. On Friday, September 6, 1918, he entrained for army service, just five weeks previous to the day of the return of his body.

He was a young man of exceptionally fine qualities, and was held in high esteem by a large number of friends.