1941 — March 15, Blizzard, extreme cold, ND/39, MN/32, WI/3, MT/1,OH/3, PA/3 NY/4–85

Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 9-24-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/

 –151  History.com. This Day in History, Disaster, March 15, 1941, Blizzard Unexpectedly…

—  85  Blanchard compilation from State breakouts below.

—  80  United Press. “Spring Is Her Again…” South Haven Daily Tribune, MI. 3-20-1941, p. 8.

—  78  AP. “Death Toll Mounts to 78 as…Midwest.” Winona Republican-Herald. 3-18-1941, p1.

—  71  Ludlum, David M.  The American Weather Book.  1982, p. 56.

—  71  National Weather Service WFO, Dodge City, KS. Today’s Weather Trivia.”  Nov 2005.

—  60  Kartman, Ben (Ed.).  Disaster!  2007, p. 321.

Michigan        (02)  News-Palladium, MI. “March Storm Moves On, 78 Dead,” 3-18-1941, p. 3.

–1  Rosedale area. Exposure during storm attempting to walk home: Robert MeKee, 21.[1]

Minnesota      (32) 

–32  Ludlum, David M.  The American Weather Book.  1982, p. 56.

–28  AP. “Search Continues For Storm Victims.” Bismarck Tribune, ND. 3-19-1941, p. 1.

 Montana         (01)

–1  Eastern. Truck overturned during the storm killing man.[2]

New York       (04)  

–4  News-Palladium, Benton Harbor, MI. “March Storm Moves On, 78 Dead,” 3-18-1941, p. 3.

–1  Little Valley area. Heart attack after thawing milk house pipes; Manley K. Milks, 60.[3]

–1  Perrysburg area. Willard Ranney, 52, snowplow operator, apparent hit and run.[4]

 North Dakota (39) 

–39  AP. “Search Continues For Storm Victims.” Bismarck Tribune, ND. 3-19-1941, p. 1.

–39  Environmental Data Service. Storm Data, Vol. 8, No. 3, March 1966, p. 18.

–39  Ludlum, David M.  The American Weather Book.  1982, p. 56.

–38  AP. “Death Toll Mounts to 78 as…Midwest.” Winona Republican-Herald. 3-18-1941, p1.

Ohio                (03) 

–2  News-Palladium, Benton Harbor, MI. “March Storm Moves On, 78 Dead,” 3-18-1941, p. 3.

–1  Cleveland. Person froze to death.[5]

–1  Cleveland Heights. Heart attack after shoveling snow at home; J. J. Fithian.[6]

–1  Piqua. Person froze to death.[7]

Pennsylvania  (03) 

–1  Correy area. Exposure; Clarence Steadman, 65.[8]

–1  Eldred area. Auto accident during snow storm. William H. Taylor, about 70, of Tioga PA.[9]

–1  Warren. Exposure; walking along country road in near zero temperatures; Gerald Burt.[10]

Wisconsin       (03) 

–3  AP. “Three In [WI] Lose Lives…Sub-Zero Gale Sweeps In.” Manitowoc Herald Times, WI. 3-17-1941, 1.

            –1  Eau Clare area. George Clark, 32, hit by car while putting chains on car in storm.

            –1  Egg Harbor. Exposure or heart attack; Wesley Gray, 42 near his fishing shanty.

–1  Knowlton. Lester Cater, 17 hit by car while helping to push snowdrift stalled car.

Narrative Information

North Dakota and Minnesota

 

Environmental Data Service, NOAA. Storm Data, Vol. 8, No. 3, March 1966, p. 18:

“In some respects, this blizzard of 1966 can be considered one of the most severe in the history of the state. The legendary January 12, 1888 blizzard, which left at least 112 persons dead, lasted for 14 hours. The unusually severe blizzard of March 15, 1941, with 70 m.p.h. winds, crossed the state from northwest to southeast in only 7 hours, leaving 39 dead in eastern North Dakota, where the storm was most severe.”

 

History.com: “A fast-moving and severe blizzard hits North Dakota and Minnesota, killing 151 people, on this day in 1941. Weather forecasting and reporting made important advances following this disaster that would have prevented the loss of life that occurred due to the sudden storm.

 

“The people of North Dakota and northern Minnesota had nearly no warning of the blizzard that swept in suddenly from the west on March 15. In some locations, temperatures dropped 20 degrees in less than 15 minutes. Fifty-mile-per-hour sustained winds (with gusts reaching 85 mph in Grand Forks and 75 mph in Duluth) brought blinding snow and huge 7-foot-high snow drifts across the states.

 

“Most of the victims of the blizzard were traveling in their cars when it hit. Highway 2, running from Duluth, Minnesota, to North Dakota, was shut down, as were Highways 75 and 81. Attempts to rescue those stranded in their cars came too late. In one incident, six-year-old Wilbert Treichel died from exposure to the cold as his parents attempted to carry him through the blizzard to safety.

 

“Two thousand people attending a basketball game in Moorhead, Minnesota, were stranded at the arena overnight when it was wisely decided that travel was too dangerous. Theaters, hotels and stores across the region were also forced to stay open through the night because so many people had visited them, unaware that a major storm was approaching. Although the storm was also severe in Manitoba, Canada, only seven people there died because the population was much better prepared for the storm and for dangerous weather in general.

 

“In the aftermath of this blizzard, weathermen in North Dakota and Minnesota–who had been under the control of the Chicago meteorology office, which was more concerned with local weather concerns and paid less attention to events occurring to the north–were allowed autonomy in their reporting.  Protected with new technological advances in the wake of the disaster, area residents hoped they would never again be so blind-sided by a winter storm.”  (History.com. This Day in History, Disaster, March 15, 1941, Blizzard Unexpectedly Hits North Dakota and Minnesota.”

 

National Weather Service, Weather Forecast Office, Dodge City, KS: “Mar 15, 1941  The most severe blizzard in modern history struck North Dakota and Minnesota. The blizzard hit on a Saturday night while many were traveling, and thus claimed 71 lives. Winds gusted to 75 mph at Duluth MN, and reached 85 mph at Grand Forks ND. Snow drifts twelve feet high were reported in north central Minnesota. A cold front traveling 30 mph crossed Minnesota in just seven hours.” (NWS WFO Dodge City, KS. “Today’s Weather Trivia.”  Nov 2005.)

 

Newspapers

 

March 17, Bismarck Tribune: “Fifty-nine persons are known to be dead and scores still are missing in the wake of the terrific storm which swept the Red River valley of North Dakota and Minnesota Saturday night and Sunday. Each passing hour brought additional reports of death and destruction and many families were waiting anxiously for word of loved ones whose whereabouts and fate are unknown.

 

“Snow plows are opening blocked roads in the area Monday and every so often one of them comes upon a stalled automobile, its occupants dead or in critical condition. In some cases the motor cars are empty and it is feared that in most such cases death claimed the occupants as they struggled toward shelter.

 

“The body of 14-year-old David Sterling of Glasston, N.D. was found shortly before noon, Monday, two miles south of his home. In returning from a neighbors home a quarter of a mile away, he walked past his own home in the storm.

 

“Four more names were added to the list of dead when the bodies of three Grand Forks victims were found near Crookston and another victims was discovered at Michigan, N.D. The three Grand Forks victims, found just outside Crookston, were Mr. and Mrs. E. L. Ellington and Miss Harriet Coger, the latter principal of Winship school in Grand Forks.

 

“Five miles south of Michigan, the body of Peter Smiley, 80, was found mantled in snow about a mile southwest of the farm where he worked. He had been in the barn and missed the house in the storm.

 

“Mr. and Mrs. Erick Soltveit, residing five miles west of Oslo, Minn,  separated when their automobile stalled en route home from Alvarado, Minn. Her body was found a mile from home and his four miles north.

 

“Sid Bonamie, about 26, station agent at the Tilde Junction east of Crookston froze to death near his home. This brought the death count in North Dakota to 34.

 

“With the stillness of the air Monday came increasing cold. It was -22 at Bemidji, Minn, in the norther section Monday morning, -8 at Rochester, in Southeast4ern Minnesota, and -11 at Eau Claire in Western Wisconsin.

 

“Snowplows still bucked the huge drifts piled up by the storm. Although the snowfall was only light, the terrible velocity of the wind, which at times reached an estimated 85 miles an hour, piled the snow deeply and many roads still were blockaded, thus hampering the search for a number of missing persons.

 

“At least 77 persons were still unaccounted for and a score or more others were reported in hospitals as a result of one of the worst storms in the memory of Red River valley pioneers. Physicians feared that some of those in hospitals might die.

 

“Thousands of farmers, out for their Saturday’s shopping trips, were threatened by the fast-traveling storm in which the wind rose at times to 85 miles an hour. Dozens of cars plunged into ditches, driven there by the wind. Others slipped from the road as fine snow and dust, swirled by the gale, cut visibility to nothing.

 

“Some of the victims froze to death in their stalled cars. Others were battered to exhaustion as they sought to fight their way and to safety and died on the roads and in fields. In many cases bodies were found only a short distance from shelter.

 

“….Recorded wind velocity included one of 74 miles an hour at Fargo and another of 86 miles an hour at Grand Forks. Sudden gusts at times raised the gale as much as 15 miles an hour.

 

“Biting cold rode with the wind which tumbled temperatures close to the zero mark. As the wind ceased the mercury continued to sink, dropping under zero generally.

 

“The storm extended into South Dakota, but with less severity than in the other sections. Blocked highways were reported in that state around Sisseton, in the northeastern section. A 30-mile-an hour wind drifted snow.

 

“Sub-zero temperatures also were reported in eastern Montana Monday in the wake of the storm which brought a little snow to that state. One man was killed near Shelby when his truck overturned during the storm.

 

“North Dakota authorities reported that in a number of instances storm victims were suffocated by the sheer force of the wind, their lungs congested from the snow and dirt-filled air.

 

“One man, Waldemar Johnson, 25, Warren, Minn., owed his life to his presence of mind in burring into snow in a drainage ditch where he remained nearly 12 hours. He suffered a frost bitten ear.

 

“Sid Boniame, Tilden, Minn., railroad station agent, bundled his wife and small child in blankets while he went for aid after their car slipped off the road. Mrs. Boniame and the youngster were rescued Sunday morning, but her husband was still missing Monday.

 

“Within a distance of 10 miles, between Crookston and Eldred, the highway department reported eight persons were rescued from stalled automobiles. Between Grand Forks and Crookston 29 were rescued. Roads  in the Crookston area were blocked.

 

“The Duluth area also felt the storm’s fury with a gale of 70-miles an hour causing heavy property damage there. Hundreds of residences were damaged by the storm and Alfred D. Gaines, 69, was suffocated in a fire which caused $14,000 damage to the Midway hotel early Sunday.”

 

(Bismarck Tribune, ND. “59 Dead As Storm Screams Across Dakotas, Minnesota; Many Missing.” 3-17-1941, pp. 1 and 3.)

 

Fatalities mentioned in papers, by State, numbered and alphabetical:[11]

 

Minnesota:

  1. Peter Bjerken, about 45, ~Mahnomen. Exposure; stalled car; tried walking ½ mile.[12]
  2. Palmer S. Bjerken, 8, near Mahnomen, son of Mrs. Peter Bjerken.
  3. Sid Bonaime, depot agent at Tilden Junction, 16 miles east of Crookston, frozen, froze.[13]
  4. Miss Harriet Coger, Grand Forks, froze on roadside near Northwest School ~Crookston.
  5. E. L. Ellington, Grand Forks, froze on roadside near Northwest School ~Crookston.
  6. E. L. Ellington “                      “
  7. Irvin Engebretson, bachelor farmer, near Fosston.
  8. Ludwig Foss, of Beltrami, frozen on highway near Lockheart.
  9. Ludwig Foss “                      “
  10. Roselyn Foss “                      “ daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ludwig Foss.
  11. Elmer Green, near Crookston. Caught walking outside when storm struck.[14]
  12. Albert Horn, 77, froze, found in wooded area on farm 2 miles south of Caledonia.[15]
  13. Alphonse LaRochelle, about 30, near Crookston.
  14. John Lennox of Fargo, found near Detroit Lakes.
  15. John Lennox of Fargo, found near Detroit Lakes.
  16. Ali Luzaich, 62, farmer near Chisholm, froze to death near his home.
  17. Elmer Maland, 42, Halstad, body found frozen near Halstad.
  18. Berg Moren, 56, farmer, near Wylie.
  19. Palmer Peterson, near Crookston.
  20. Anita Petrunchek, 43, St. Paul.
  21. Five-year-old son of Mrs. Palmer Peterson, near Crookston.
  22. Oscar Sandy, near Ada. Exposure trying to reach home of a neighbor.[16]
  23. 9-month-old baby of Mrs. Oscar Sandy, near Ada.
  24. Erick Soltveit, 48, of near Oslo; froze when car stalled and tried to walk to shelter.[17]
  25. Erick Soltveit, 45, of near Oslo. “
  26. Wilbert Treichel, 6 or 13; exposure; stalled car, father tried carrying him to shelter.[18]
  27. Francis James Weckwerth, 22, Hazel farmer. Exposure; went out to search for brother.[19]

 

North Dakota:

  1. Rosalie Anerson, 10 miles south of Michigan, ND.[20]
  2. William Baungartner, 50, near Cando.
  3. E. Bunday, Oakes.
  4. Gust Carlson, about 70, near Lakota.
  5. Nancy Charon, 73, Park River.
  6. Olaf Christianson, farm widow near Pekin.
  7. Emil Erickson, Wing, found dead within 200 feet of farm home.
  8. Henry Friesen, Munich
  9. Nick Hauchert farmer of St. Thomas.
  10. Nick Hauchert of St Thomas.
  11. Andrew Hentjium, 55, near Dahlen.
  12. Carl D. Hillesland, 72, near Aneta.
  13. Jacob Hoffman, Munich.
  14. Ervone Hoffman, 4, daughter of Mrs. Jacob Hoffman.
  15. Florence Howry, 14, Pembina, frozen to death, body hit by train.
  16. Kate Howry, 21, Pembina, sister of Florence, frozen to death on train tracks.
  17. Albert Jacobson, 76, near Fort Ransom. He and son died clinging to barbed wire fence.[21]
  18. Albert Jacobson, jr. son of Albert Jacobson, near Fort Ransom.
  19. Raymond Johnson, 24, Valley City, near Cooperstown.
  20. John Kalastad, Michigan.
  21. Bernice Larson, 21, Gardner.
  22. Louise MacLeod, near Hannah.
  23. Frank Meyers, 73, near Grand Forks.
  24. Kenneth Nickerson, near Hannah, nephew of Louise MacLeod.
  25. Paul Norberg, near Bottineau.
  26. Paul Norberg, near Bottineau.
  27. Ralph Norberg, son of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Norberg.
  28. Sever Reep, 35, near Michigan.
  29. Bernice Smaage, 10 miles south of Michigan, ND.[22]
  30. Peter Smiley, farm laborer of Michigan, ND, found frozen to death a mile from home.
  31. David Sterling, 14, near Glasston, lost his way and froze to death trying to get home.
  32. Lee Taylor, 17, near Dazey. Car stalled and froze to death trying to reach home.
  33. Donald Taylor, 15, near Dazey. “
  34. Dick Taylor, 10, near Dazey. “
  35. Frances Waters, about 21, near Kelso.

 

Sources

 

Associated Press. “Break In Frigid Weather Is Near, Say Forecasters” The Salem News, OH. 3-18-1941, p. 1. Accessed 9-25-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/salem-news-mar-18-1941-p-1/

 

Associated Press. “Death Toll Mounts to 78 As Storm Moves Out of Midwest.” Winona Republican-Herald. 3-18-1941, p. 1. Accessed 9-25-2024 at:

https://newspaperarchive.com/winona-republican-herald-mar-18-1941-p-1/

 

Associated Press. “Here’s a List of Dakota And Minnesota Victims.” Bismarck Tribune, ND. 3-17-1941, p.1. Accessed 9-25-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/bismarck-tribune-mar-17-1941-p-1/

 

Associated Press. “Red River Valley Area Hit Hardest.” The Evening Tribune, Albert Lea, MN. 3-17-1941, p. 1. Accessed 9-25-2024 at:

https://newspaperarchive.com/albert-lea-evening-tribune-mar-17-1941-p-1/

 

Associated Press. “Search Continues For Storm Victims.” Bismarck Tribune, ND. 3-19-1941, p. 1. Accessed 9-25-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/bismarck-tribune-mar-19-1941-p-1/

 

Associated Press. “Three Deaths Laid To Storm.” Salamanca Republican-Press, NY. 3-18-1941, p. 1. Assessed 9-25-2024: https://newspaperarchive.com/salamanca-republican-press-mar-18-1941-p-1/

 

Associated Press. “Three In Wisconsin Lose Lives As Sub-Zero Gale Sweeps In.” Manitowoc Herald Times, WI. 3-17-1941, 1. Accessed 9-25-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/manitowoc-herald-times-mar-17-1941-p-1/

 

Associated Press. “Two Young Girls to Be Buried Together.” Bismarck Tribune, ND. 3-20-1941, p. 6. Accessed 9-25-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/bismarck-tribune-mar-20-1941-p-6/

 

Bismarck Tribune, ND. “59 Dead As Storm Screams Across Dakotas, Minnesota; Many Missing.” 3-17-1941, p. 1. Accessed 9-25-2024 at:

https://newspaperarchive.com/bismarck-tribune-mar-17-1941-p-1/

 

Environmental Data Service, Environmental Science Services Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce. Storm Data, Vol. 8, No. 3, March 1966, Asheville: 1966. Accessed 9-25-2024 at: https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/swdi/stormevents/pub-pdf/storm_1966_03.pdf

 

History.com. This Day in History, Disaster, March 15, 1941. “Blizzard Unexpectedly Hits North Dakota and Minnesota.” Accessed 12-07-2008 at: http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&displayDate=03/15&categoryId=disaster

 

Kartman, Ben. Disaster! Read Books, 2007. Partially digitized by Google. Accessed at: http://books.google.com/books?id=lynBIKvEDBQC&source=gbs_navlinks_s

 

Ludlum, David M. The American Weather Book. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1982.

 

National Weather Service Forecast Office, Dodge City, KS. Today’s Weather Trivia (March).  NWS, Nov 1, 2005. Accessed at:  http://www.crh.noaa.gov/ddc/wxtrivia/wxtrvMar.php

 

News-Palladium, Benton Harbor, MI. “March Storm Moves On, 78 Dead,” 3-18-1941, p. 3. Accessed at: https://newspaperarchive.com

 

Salamanca Republican-Press. “County Worker Killed, Farmer Dies In Storm…” 3-18-1941, p. 1. Accessed 9-25-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/salamanca-republican-press-mar-18-1941-p-1/

 

The Escanaba Daily Press, MI. “Dies of Exposure.” 3-19-1941, p. 14. Accessed 9-25-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/escanaba-daily-press-mar-19-1941-p-14/

 

United Press. “Spring Is Her Again…” South Haven Daily Tribune, MI. 3-20-1941, p. 8. Accessed 9-25-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/south-haven-daily-tribune-mar-20-1941-p-8/

 

United Press. “Unheralded Gale From The Arctic Sweeps Nor. U.S.” Dunkirk Evening Observer, NY. 3-17-1941, p.3. Accessed 9-25-2024 at:

https://newspaperarchive.com/dunkirk-evening-observer-mar-17-1941-p-3/

 

Winona Republican-Herald. “Caledonia Man Found Frozen; 72nd Victim.” 3-20-1941, p. 3. Accessed 9-25-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/winona-republican-herald-mar-20-1941-p-3/

 

 

 

 

[1] The Escanaba Daily Press, MI. “Dies of Exposure.” 3-19-1941, p. 14.

[2] Bismarck Tribune, ND. “59 Dead As Storm Screams Across Dakotas, Minnesota; Many Missing.” 3-17-1941, p 3.

[3] Salamanca Republican-Press. “County Worker Killed, Farmer Dies In Storm…” 3-18-1941, p. 1.

[4] Salamanca Republican-Press. “County Worker Killed, Farmer Dies In Storm…” 3-18-1941, p. 1.

[5] Associated Press. “Break In Frigid Weather Is Near, Say Forecasters” The Salem News, OH. 3-18-1941, p. 1.

[6] Associated Press. “Break In Frigid Weather Is Near, Say Forecasters” The Salem News, OH. 3-18-1941, p. 1.

[7] Associated Press. “Break In Frigid Weather Is Near, Say Forecasters” The Salem News, OH. 3-18-1941, p. 1.

[8] Associated Press. “Three Deaths Laid To Storm.” Salamanca Republican-Press, NY. 3-18-1941, p. 1.

[9] Associated Press. “Three Deaths Laid To Storm.” Salamanca Republican-Press, NY. 3-18-1941, p. 1.

[10] Associated Press. “Three Deaths Laid To Storm.” Salamanca Republican-Press, NY. 3-18-1941, p. 1.

[11] Unless noted otherwise source is Associated Press. “Here’s a List of Dakota And Minnesota Victims.” Bismarck Tribune, ND. 3-17-1941, p.1.

[12] UP. “Unheralded Gale From The Arctic Sweeps Nor. U.S.” Dunkirk Evening Observer, NY. 3-17-1941, 3.

[13] Associated Press. “Red River Valley Area Hit Hardest.” The Evening Tribune, Albert Lea, MN. 3-17-1941, p. 1.

[14] UP. “Unheralded Gale From The Arctic Sweeps Nor. U.S.” Dunkirk Evening Observer, NY. 3-17-1941, 3.

[15] Winona Republican-Herald. “Caledonia Man Found Frozen; 72nd Victim.” 3-20-1941, p. 3.

[16] UP. “Unheralded Gale From The Arctic Sweeps Nor. U.S.” Dunkirk Evening Observer, NY. 3-17-1941, 3.

[17] Ages from: AP. “Red River Valley Area Hit Hardest.” The Evening Tribune, Albert Lea, MN. 3-17-1941, p. 1.

[18] UP. “Unheralded Gale From The Arctic Sweeps Nor. U.S.” Dunkirk Evening Observer, NY. 3-17-1941, 3.

[19] UP. “Unheralded Gale From The Arctic Sweeps Nor. U.S.” Dunkirk Evening Observer, NY. 3-17-1941, 3. Brother got home safely.

[20] Associated Press. “Two Young Girls to Be Buried Together.” Bismarck Tribune, ND. 3-20-1941, p. 6.

[21] UP. “Unheralded Gale From The Arctic Sweeps Nor. U.S.” Dunkirk Evening Observer, NY. 3-17-1941, 3.

[22] Associated Press. “Two Young Girls to Be Buried Together.” Bismarck Tribune, ND. 3-20-1941, p. 6.