Newspaper, Deaths 1976 Flood, Larimer County, Colorado Transcribed by Marta Norton 7 May 2000 Reprinted with permission from Alan J. Dolifka of I Dream of Genealogy http://www.idreamof.com/home.html BIG THOMPSON CANYON FLOOD LARIMER COUNTY, COLORADO 31 JULY 1976 "It was a beautiful summer Saturday in Northern Colorado, as thousands of residents and tourists visited beautiful Estes Park, to begin a weekend of fun. It was Colorado's Centennial Weekend, but nobody could have imagined what Mother Nature had in store for those unlucky enough to be traveling the canyon that evening. By late afternoon, a few sprinkles began to fall over the Colorado Rockies; by dusk, huge thunderheads had begun to form and soon soared 12 miles, over 60,000 feet, into the atmosphere. At 7:35 p.m. the first signs of the impending disaster emerged when the National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm warning. By this time most of the park's visitors had begun the drive down the canyon towards Loveland and most of the canyon's residents were enjoying the Summer Olympics from Montreal on television. At 9:00 p.m. the National Weather Service issued a more urgent warning for everyone in the canyon to expect flooding. For most, this warning was too late. Over 11 inches of rain, a once-in-a-century downpour, fell in 4 hours. The narrow canyon funneled the deluge into a wall of water nearly 20 feet high. For many, there was nowhere to run and tragedy was the result. 139 are known to have died that night, and 88 people were injured. 7 victims have never been located. The flood destroyed 316 homes, 45 mobile homes and 52 businesses. 73 mobile homes suffered major damage. Victims of the Big Thompson Flood." (This list has been crossed referenced with the Social Security Death Index to supply dates of birth, residences, etc..) Name Age Resident of SS Information ADAMS, Greg 27 Loveland, CO b. 26 July 1949, d. July 1976; 514-52-4092 APPLEBAUM, Joseph 68 Lakewood, CO APPLEBAUM, Norma 68 Lakewood, CO BACK, Irene 48 Denver, CO BACK, William 55 Commerce City, CO b. 18 Dec. 1922, d. 31 July 1976; 303-22-1189; Issued IN bef.1951 BAILEY, Keith 51 Big Thompson Canyon, CO b. 14 Dec. 1924, d. July 1976; Residence 80542, Mead, Weld County, CO; 522-78-5465; Issued CO 1967 BASHFORD, Stannis 17 Loveland, CO BECKER, Louise 75 Waverly, IA b. 23 May 1901, d. July 1976; Residence 50677, Plainfield, Bremer County, IA; 479-80-7755; Issued IA 1973 BELL, Eleanor 51 Drake, CO b. 25 Feb. 1925, d. July 1976; 523-22-8158; Issued CO Bef. 1951 BELL, Myrl 52 Drake, CO b. 25 Sept. 1923, d. July 1976; 521-16-8149; Issued CO Bef. 1951 BISSING, Terri 27 Glenwood Springs, CO Visiting the Campus Crusade for Christ Retreat BOKEMAN, Frances 62 Big Thompson Canyon, CO b. 12 Aug. 1914, d. Aug 1976; Residence 80538 Loveland, Larimer County, CO; 551-30-7575; Issued CA bef. 1951 BROOKS, Dora 40 Austell, GA BROOKS, Elbert 41 Austell, GA CAMPBELL, Elaine PFC 20 Ft. Carson, CO b. 5 July 1956, d. July 1976; 364-66-0368; Issued MI 1972 CARLSON, Stanley J. 22 Greeley, CO b. 8 July 1954, d. July 1976; 521-76-1335; Issued CO 1966 CARLSON, Tanya 19 Greeley, CO CARR, James M. 21 Loveland, CO b. 24 Aug. 1954, d. July 1976; 522-82-2113; Issued CO 1969 CARTER, Etta Marie 56 Belleville, IL CHANNER, Genevieve H. 62 Drake, CO CHANNER, Glenn 62 Drake, CO b. 2 May 1911, d. July 1976; Residence 80517, Estes Park, Larimer County, CO; 522-10-4410; Issued CO bef. 1951 CONLEY, Michael O. 30 Colorado Springs, CO - Estes Park Policeman b. 13 March 1946, d. July 1976; Residence 80907 Colorado Springs, El Paso County, CO; 522-54-4717; Issued CO 1958-59 CURTIS, Larry 25 Sterling, CO b. 9 March 1951, d. July 1976; Residence 80751, Sterling, Logan County, CO; 522-74-9717; Issued CO 1966 DECKER, Verna 94 Drake, CO b. 15 January 1882; d. July 1976; Residence 80515 Drake, Larimer County, CO; 566-42-0533; Issued CA bef. 1951 EYL, Norman W. 58 Big Thompson Canyon, CO b. 4 July 1918, d. July 1976; 507-07-5888; Issued NE bef. 1951 FELTS, Mary Jean 29 Springfield, IL b. 26 December 1947, d. July 1976; 347-40-5974; Issued IL 1964 FUJIWARA, June 27 Maui, HI Visiting the Campus Crusade for Christ Retreat b. 24 June 1949, d. July 1976; 575-54-3724; Issued HI 1965 GAFF, Mildred 50 Denver, CO GODDARD, Richard 19 Denver, CO GRAHAM, Beverly 33 Loveland, CO GRAHAM, Clara 64 Cedar Grove, CO b. 7 Feb. 1912, d. July 1976; Residence 80537, Loveland, Larimer County, CO; 450-09-5747; Issued TX bef. 1951 GRAHAM, Lisa 2 Loveland, CO GREENLEE, Valah Constance 84 Big Thompson Canyon, CO HARMON, Greg 18 Keokuk, IA b. 27 August 1957, d. July 1976 HASKELL, Chad 5 Des Moines, IA HASKELL, Emma 63 Des Moines, IA b. 9 March 1913, d. July 1976; Residence 50317, Des Moines, Polk County, IA; 478-22-3261; Issued IA bef. 1951 HASKELL, Judy 31 Des Moines, IA b. 16 August 1944, d. July 1976; 482-54-6559; Issued IA 1961-62 HASKELL, William 32 Des Moines, IA b. 25 August 1943, d. July 1976; 485-50-4954; Issued IA 1959 HASKELL, William F. 70 Des Moines, IA b. 31 March 1906, d. July 1976; Residence 50317 Des Moines, Polk County, IA; 483-09-4657; Issued IA bef. 1951 HAZZARD, Clarence 73 Austin, TX b. 13 January 1903, d. July 1976; Residence 78704, Austin, Travis County, TX; 554-10-3756; Issued CA bef. 1951 HENRY, Frances 36 Drake, CO HENRY, George 51 Drake, CO b. 5 June 1925, d. July 1976; 478-24-8421; Issued IA bef. 1951 HENRY, Laurie Lee 9 Drake, CO HENRY, Shirlee Ann 14 Drake, CO HOBBS, Dorothy 66 Drake, CO b. 17 Oct. 1909, d. July 1976; Residence 80537, Loveland, Larimer County, CO; 522-14-6216; Issued CO bef. 1951 HOBBS, Ellis 68 Drake, CO b. 10 Sept. 1907, d. July 1976; Residence 80537, Loveland, Larimer County, CO; 524-07-9642; Issued CO bef. 1951 HORTON, Kimberly 18 Aurora, CO b. 25 October 1957, d. July 1976; 523-86-6527; Issued CO 1970 HUFFSMITH, Richard 19 Loveland, CO b. 23 January 1957, d. July 1976; 522-88-8194; Issued CO 1971 HUFNAGLE, Ken 66 Loveland, CO b. 14 Jan. 1910, d. July 1976; Residence 80537, Loveland, Larimer County, CO; 506-07-4737; Issued NE bef. 1951 HUFNAGLE, Nora 67 Loveland, CO b. 13 Jan. 1909, d. July 1976; Residence 80537, Loveland, Larimer County, CO; 523-05-1414; Issued CO bef. 1951 JENKINS, Helen Evelyn 61 Denver, CO b. 9 July 1915, d. July 1976; Residence 80537 Loveland, Larimer County, CO; 473-03-6352; Issued MN bef. 1951 JOBST, Dorothy 57 Omaha, NE JOBST, Rev. Eugene 57 Omaha, NE JOHNSTON, Rae Ann 28 Crystal, ND Visiting the Campus Crusade for Christ Retreat KARSTENS, Debra Koch 22 Loveland, CO b. 29 Sept. 1953, d. July 1976; 506-74-1037; Issued NE 1968 KARSTENS, Don 23 Loveland, CO b. 2 April 1953, d. July 1976; 478-66-9087; Issued IA 1965 KOERNER, Kurt 20 Arvada, CO b. 29 Oct. 1955, d. July 1976; 521-86-1211; Issued CO 1970 KRONENBERGER, Ed 52 Littleton, CO b. 11 May 1924, d. July 1976; 521-24-2412; Issued CO bef. 1951 KRONENBERGER, Ester 50 Littleton, CO b. 10 Dec. 1925, d. July 1976; 524-24-5138; Issued CO bef. 1951 KRONENBERGER, Kim 22 Littleton, CO b. 30 Dec. 1953, d. July 1976; 523-72-5308; Issued CO 1966 LAFFERTY, Mildred 58 Drake, CO b. 15 Jan 1918, d. July 1976; Last Benefit 80234, Broomfield, Adams County, CO; 514-14-5094; Issued KS bef. 1951 LAFFERTY, Pat 61 Drake, CO b. 15 Dec. 1914, d. July 1976; Last Benefit 80234, Broomfield, Adams County, CO; 707-09-0551; Railroad Retirement bef. 1951 LEE, Ealy A. 62 Loveland, CO b. 12 Jan. 1914, d. July 1976; 522-10-9949; Issued CO bef. 1951 LEMON, Kelly 13 Des Moines, IA b. 29 Aug. 1963; d. July 1976; Residence 50317, Des Moines, Polk County, IA; 482-88-1337; Issued IA 1975-76 LEYDEN, Barbara 29 McLean, VA Visiting the Campus Crusade for Christ Retreat b. 11 April 1947, d. July 1976; 368-52-2503; Issued MI bef. 1965 LOHRY, Andrew 73 Drake, CO b. 30 Jan. 1903, d. July 1976; Residence 80515, Drake, Larimer County, CO; 523-42-8351; Issued CO 1951-52 LOHRY, Elizabeth 47 Drake, CO b. 1 Jan. 1929, d. July 1976; 523-36-5285; Issued CO bef. 1951 LOOMIS, Cathie M. 29 Seattle, WA Visiting the Campus Crusade for Christ Retreat LORENCE, Brenda 15 Phillipsburg, KS LORENCE, Debbie 13 Phillipsburg, KS LORENCE, Jim 43 Phillipsburg, KS b. 22 Nov. 1932, d. July 1976; 511-28-6367; Issued KS bef. 1951 LORENCE, Phyllis 41 Phillipsburg, KS b. 27 Feb. 1935, d. July 1976; 513-30-1198; Issued KS bef. 1951 MACIEJEWSKI, Benjamin 48 Big Thompson Canyon, CO b. 26 Jan. 1928, d. July 1976; 506-32-7930; Issued NE bef. 1951 MACIEJEWSKI, Betty 49 Big Thompson Canyon, CO b. 19 Oct. 1926, d. July 1976; 506-28-7275; Issued NE bef. 1951 MANONGDO, Priscilla 28 Quezon City, Philippines Visiting the Campus Crusade for Christ Retreat MARES, Allyson 5 Big Thompson Canyon, CO MARES, James, Jr. 33 Big Thompson Canyon, CO MARES, Jamie 8 Big Thompson Canyon, CO MARES, Renee 32 Big Thompson Canyon, CO b. 13 Aug. 1943, d. July 1976; 523-60-8665; Issued CO 1962 MARES, Ricky 6 Big Thompson Canyon, CO MARSHALL, Eula 77 Wichita, KS b. 21 Jan. 1899, d. July 1976; Residence 37138, Mount Juliet, Wilson County, TN; 414-50-6798; Issued TN bef. 1951 MATTHEWS, George 17 Aurora, CO MATTHEWS, Katherine 54 Aurora, CO MCCARGO, Lois 63 Big Thompson Canyon, CO MCKISSACK, Jack 58 Aurora, CO b. 10 June 1918, d. July 1976; Residence 80010, Aurora, Arapahoe County, CO; 521-09-9685; Issued CO bef. 1951 MILLER, Dr. Jeffrey 27 Greeley, CO MOORE, Deborah 17 Drake, CO MORGAN, Homer 21 Aurora, CO b. 26 Sept. 1954, d. July 1976; 467-11-2637; Issued TX 1971 MORNINGSTAR, Dorothy 69 Lisbon, IA b. 27 Nov. 1906, d. July 1976; Residence 52253, Lisbon, Linn County, IA; 482-60-1728; Issued IA 1964 MORNINGSTAR, Leon 65 Lisbon, IA b.31 Oct. 1910, d. July 1976; Residence 52253, Lisbon, Linn County, IA; 485-44-9067; Issued IA 1956 MORTON, Charles E. 62 Drake, CO NELSON, Myrtle 45 Fleming, CO NELSON, William 48 Fleming, CO b. 16 Feb. 1928, d. July 1976; 523-34-6696; Issued CO bef. 1951 OGLEY, Tena-Marie 19 Ovid, CO OLER, Nattie 52 Longmont, CO b. 4 June 1924, d. July 1976; Last Benefits 80011 Aurora, Arapahoe County, CO; 513-16-8167; Issued KS bef 1951 PALMER, Nona J. 19 Denver, CO b. 24 Dec. 1956, d. July 1976; 559-27-4853; Issued CA 1973 PLANT, John Joseph 42 Broomfield, CO PLANT, July 37 Broomfield, CO PLANT, Michael 14 Broomfield, CO PRIMM, Grace 79 Kansas City, MO b. 11 April 1897, d. July 1976; Residence 64111, Kansas City, Clay County, MO; 355-22-0577; Issued IL bef. 1951 PURDY, Sgt. Willis Hugh 53 Loveland, CO b. 28 Sept 1922, d. July 1976; 521-14-0906; Issued CO bef 1951 REMSING, Frances 48 Big Thompson Canyon, CO b. 19 May 1928, d. July 1976; Residence 80537, Loveland, Larimer County, CO; 384-26-0767; Issued MI bef 1951 REMSING, Martin J. 65 Loveland, CO b. 19 Oct. 1910, d. July 1976; Residence 80537, Loveland, Larimer County, CO; 347-34-7093; Issued IL 1958-59 REMSING, Martin 8 Big Thompson Canyon, CO b. 7 Sept. 1967, d. July 1976; Residence 80537, Loveland, Larimer County, CO; 524-11-0517; Issued CO 1975 RHOAD, Carol L. 23 Grantsville, PA Visiting the Campus Crusade for Christ Retreat b. 7 July 1953, d. July 1976; 165-46-1503; Issued PA 1969-70 RICHARDSON, Elizabeth 54 Springfield, MO RICHARDSON, Leonard 59 Springfield, MO b. 27 May 1917, d. July 1976; 491-03-6390; Issued MO bef. 1951 RICHARDSON, Lisa 16 Springfield, MO RICHARDSON, Rebecca 9 Springfield, MO ROGERS, Ellen 58 Brighton, CO b. 14 June 1918, d. July 1976; 523-09-6821; Issued CO bef 1951 ROGERS, Wesley "Wes" 59 Brighton, CO b. 16 Feb. 1917, d. July 1976; 369-10-9895; Issued MI bef 1951 RUDD, Cheryl 19 Greeley, CO b. 19 Aug. 1956, d. July 1976; 522-90-7689; Issued CO 1971 SAUNDERS, Eugene 65 Lawrence, KS SAUNDERS, LaVera 60 Lawrence, KS b. 5 Feb. 1916, d. July 1976; 509-16-8012; Issued KS bef. 1951 SCAVONE, Irene 77 Oak Lawn, IL b. 10 Jan. 1899, d. July 1976; Residence 60453, Oak Lawn, IL; 347-30- 5835; Issued IL 1953-54 SCHELL, Claude 86 Greeley, CO b. 4 May 1890, d. July 1976; Residence 80631, Evans City, Weld County, CO; 523-20-0034; Issued CO bef 1951 SCHELL, Mary 70 Greeley, CO b. 17March 1906, d. July 1976; Residence 80631, Evans City, Weld County, CO; 523-28-4316; Issued CO bef 1951 SCHLATTER, Catherine 23 Denver, CO SEIBERT, Annie 60's Caldwell, TX SEIBERT, Casper 60 Caldwell, TX b. 5 Sept 1913, d. July 1976; Residence 77836, Caldwell, Burleson County, TX; 458-10-6284; Issued TX bef 1951 SHEETS, Rex 26 Loveland, CO b. 1 Dec. 1950, d. July 1976; 524-76-8723; Issued CO 1967 SMITH, Earl 30 Drake, CO b. 26 Jan. 1946, d. July 1976; Residence 80515, Drake, Larimer County, CO; 390-44-2257; Issued WI 1961-62 SMITH, Jacob 3 Elgin, IL b. 10 May 1973, d. July 1976; Residence 98002, Auburn, King County, WA; 345-64-0006; Issued IL 1977 SMITH, Joseph S. 64 Drake, CO SMITH, Lylith 57 Lexington, TN b. 3 Jan. 1919, d. July 1976; Residence 38351, Lexington, Henderson County, TN; 387-16-7818; Issued WI bef 1951 SMITH, Sara 6 Elgin, IL STARR, Ann 80 Loveland, CO b. 17 April 1896, d. July 1976; Residence 80537, Loveland, Larimer County, CO; 523-62-1968; Issued CO 1963 STINNETT, Shirley 56 Kansas City, MO b. 16 June 1920, d. July 1976; 490-18-5975; Issued MO bef 1951 TURNER, Drew H. 25 Fort Collins, CO b. 18 March 1951, d. July 1976; 522-64-2311; Issued CO 1963 VENRICK, Ross 61 Catawba, OH b. 10 Jan. 1915, d. July 1976; Residence 43010, Catawba, Clark County, OH; 277-03-0301; Issued OH bef 1951 WATERS, Clarence 63 Riviera, AZ b. 19 Aug. 1912, d. July 1976; Residence 86442, Bullhead City, Mohave County, AZ; 503-01-9364; Issued SD bef 1951 WATERS, Mary Sue 62 Riviera, AZ b. 8 April 1914, d. July 1976; Residence 86442, Bullhead City, Mohave County, AZ; 557-42-8418; Issued CA bef 1951 WATSON, Cheryl 21 Loveland, CO b. 17 Dec. 1954, d. July 1976; 481-74-5592; Issued IA 1970 WATTS, Aaron 3 Fort Collins, CO WEISS, Beulah 60 National City, CA b. 7 April 1916, d. July 1976; Residence 80537, Loveland, Larimer County, CO; 571-22-5677; Issued CA bef 1951 WOODRING, Edna May 57 Estes Park, CO b. 20 Feb. 1919, d. July 1976; 200-09-5315; Issued PA bef 1951 WOODRING, Fred 63 Estes Park, CO b. 11 April 1913, d. July 1976; 163-09-3001; Issued PA bef 1951 =================================================== Contributed for use by the USGenWeb Archive Project (http://www.usgenweb.org) and by the COGenWeb Archive Project USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. 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