The Daily Argus-Leader, Sioux Falls, S.D.
Wakonda Woman
Takes Her Own Life
Wakonda, S.D., Jan. 19, 1953: Clay County Sheriff, Joe O’Conner reported this morning that Mrs. Charles Mayer, 46, local woman took her own life last night.
Sheriff O’Conner said a 22 rifle was used in the act. She shot herself in the head. She left no note.
Clay County Deputy Sheriff Adolph Foresburg and Coroner Myron Iverson aided in the investigation.
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The Wakonda Monitor
Thursday, January 22, 1953
MRS. CHARLES MAYER TAKE OWN LIFE
This community was shocked on Monday morning, when it was discovered that Mrs. Charles Mayer had taken her own life Sunday evening. According to Sheriff Joe O’Connor of Vermillion, who investigated, she killed herself with a .22-calibre rifle.
Survivors are her husband; four sons, Shomer Jensen of Yankton, Milton Jensen with the armed forces in Germany, Lyle and Verlyn Jensen, both at home; a brother, Arthur Jensen of Viborg, and a sister, Mrs. Elsie Sorenson of California.
Funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon from the Methodist church in Wakonda. Burial was in Rose Hill Cemetery, at Viborg.
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Sioux Falls Argus-Leader
Wakonda Farm Woman Takes Own Life
WAKONDA. (AP)—Clay County Sheriff Joe O’Connor said Monday Mrs. Charles Mayer, 46, Wakonda, ended her own life Sunday night. The sheriff said she used a 22-calibre rifle. No note was found.
The Charles Mayer’s are well-known farmers of the Wakonda vicinity, living a mile and a half south of town. They moved here about eight years ago.
Before her marriage to Mr. Mayer, the deceased was Mrs. Emma (Ben) Jensen of Viborg, and she is survived by four sons from the previous marriage, namely Shomer, employed at the Yankton State hospital; Milton (Mickie) in service in Germany; Lyle, 19, at home; and Verlyn, 15, a Wakonda high school sophomore. Mr. Jensen passed away 16 years ago.
Also surviving, along with the widower, are a brother, Art Jensen of Viborg, and a sister Mrs. Elsie Sorenson, living in California.
A son found the body of Mrs Mayer at home.
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Sioux Falls Argus-Leader
Funeral Services For Wakonda Woman Are Held on Wednesday.
Funeral services were held for Mrs. Charles Mayer of Wakonda on Wednesday at the Wakonda church with the Rev. Thomas Hackney, officiating. Mrs. Mayer, 46, died at her farm home near Wakonda on January 18.
Mrs. Emma Marie Mayer was born November 22, 1906, at Fremont, Nebr., and attended the Fremont schools. She was married on October 13, 1944, to Charles Mayer in Parker, S.D.
She is survived by her husband and by four children by a previous marriage: Shomer Jensen of Yankton; Milton Jensen who is in the Army in Germany; and Lyle and Verlyn at home. Other survivors are a brother, Art Jensen of Irene, S.D. and two sisters, Daisy Jensen of Hurley, S.D., and Mrs. Elsie Sorenson, Sacramento, Calif.
Interment was in the Rose Hill cemetery at Viborg, under the direction of the Frank M. Olds Funeral service.
Family Note: The marriage license in Parker, S.D. (Turner County Courthouse) states the marriage of Charles Mayer & Mrs. Emma Marie Jensen took place on October 14, 1944.
In personal conversations with the youngest son, Verlyn, it was he who came home from "the show" that Sunday evening, January 18, 1953, and found his mother's body.
Submitted by: Family researcher, L. Ziemann