April 25, 1940 (unknown local news issue date)
ELI McFARLANE PASSES SUDDENLY
Former Groton Man Dies in Aberdeen hospital, Funeral Monday
Eli McFarlane, for years a highly respected citizen of Groton, but who has been making his home at Ferney for the past few months, passed away Friday morning in an Aberdeen hospital. The cause of his death was not given. The news of Mr. MacFarlane’s death came as a great surprise and shock to friends not only in Ferney, but Groton as well. Apparently he was in good health up until a few days before his sudden ending when he went to the hospital for an examination and the fact that he passed so unexpectedly and suddenly is a cause of considerable sorrow in this territory.
Mr. McFarlane was born at Lodi, Wis., in 1875 and came to South Dakota about 1885, taking up his home in Groton. He was married to Miss Alma Voy in 1905 and to this union eight children were born, seven of whom survive him, together with his wife. There are also four brothers and three sisters besides a large number of other relatives.
The funeral was held from the Methodist church Monday afternoon, conducted by Rev. Luther C. Benson, and the remains were laid to rest in Groton cemetery. Among those from a distance who came to attend his funeral were Mr. and Mrs. Charles McFarlane and son, Orville and Mr. And Mrs. Al McFarlane, all of Aitken, Minn., Geo Rapp of Dickinson, N.D.; Mr. and Mrs. Ernie Perrin and son, Claude, of Sioux City, Ia.; Mrs. Aney, Mrs. Purdy and Miss Eileen McFarlane of Aberdeen; Mr. And Mrs. Bernard McFarlane of St. Peter, Minn.; Mrs. Mike Saunders, Miss Mamie Rapp and Julius Rapp of Aberdeen.
~Transcribed by volunteer researcher, Kathy Smith