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Submitted: 6/22/19 • Approved: 6/22/19 • Last Updated: 6/25/19 • R819869-G0-S3
October 1, 1929 - April 9, 1954
*Obituary
Newspaper Unknown
Date Unknown
TRAGIC ACCIDENT KILLS WASHBURN FATHER AND SON Same Bullet Claims Life of Two Last Friday Morning In Home A tragic accident claimed the lives of a 24 year old Washburn father and his two year old son last Friday morning about ten 0’clock when a .22 caliber bullet struck the pair after having been fired accidentally.
According to a reconstruction of the tragedy by Barry County Prosecuting Attorney Bill Pinnell who investigated the matter, the father, Keith Berteau, accompanied by the little boy, went into a bedroom of their home in an apartment house located in the north part of Washburn, to get the pistol to use on a hunting trip the father planned. The cylinder from the weapon either rolled from the bed or was accidentally dropped by Berteau on the concrete floor, landing on its butt and discharging one of the bullets. Apparently the small tot was standing immediately in front of his father and the father involuntarily reached to retrieve the cylinder when he saw it falling. The bullet entered the boy’s forehead passed through the head, entered the father’s upper abdomen and lodged in his chest. The father rushed out of the bedroom and informed his wife that he had accidentally shot the little boy. At that time the mother did not know the father had been hit by the bullet and told him to go for medical aid. He frantically ran outside the house and collapsed on the lawn of the home. It was then that it was determined he had been shot and was brought to the Cassville Community Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. The little boy, Billy Keith, lived until shortly afternoon at the Hospital.
Berteau was an employee of the Dunlap Produce Co. in Washburn were he had been working for the past six months. His immediate survivors include his 20 year old wife, Allene, and a 3 months old daughter. Paul Henbest, Barry County Coroner, stated that no inquest would be held in the double death. Double funeral services were held over the father and son yesterday (Wednesday) afternoon in the Washburn Methodist Church with Rev. Frank Hall, pastor of the church officiating. Burial under direction of the Culver Funeral Home was in the Seligman Cemetery. In addition to the survivors above is his mother, Mrs. Walter Forcade of the Maple Grove community, a sister, Mrs. Berniece Williams of Sacramento, Calif.; Donald Berteau of Pasadena, Calif.
Contributed on 6/22/19 by judyfrog
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Record #: 819869