BRETTON, LILA LORRAINE - Phillips County, Kansas | LILA LORRAINE BRETTON - Kansas Gravestone Photos

Lila Lorraine BRETTON

Fairview (AKA Phillipsburg) Cemetery
Phillips County,
Kansas

February 22 1947 - February 19 1965

*Newspaper Clipping
DEATH ROARED OUT OF THE DARKNESS

PHILLIPSBURG -- The two girls were looking forward to an evening of visiting friends in Norton as they walked along US 36 highway.They didn't have a car, but it was such a nice evening that they apparently decided to start walking the 31 miles to Norton in hopes of catching a ride. It was a light-hearted venture.
Then death roared out of the darkness.A pickup truck driven by Robert Schemper, 51, Long Island, struck the girls, killing them.
Dead are Virginia Allen, daughter of Mr and Mrs Lloyd Allen; and Lila Bretton, daughter of Mr and Mrs Mavor Bretton, all of Phillipsburg. Both girls were 17.
Highway Patrol Trooper Dean Noffsinger, Phillipsburg, who investigated the accident, said the girls were walking, with traffic, on the north side of the highway, about a mile west of Phillipsburg. The time was 9:45 Friday.
Noffsinger said both girls wore dark clothing, making it difficult for them to be seen by traffic. He speculated they were walking on the highway because the shoulder was muddy.
They had left home shortly after supper, telling their parents they might go to Norton.
"It was a nice evening," Mrs Allen said Saturday. "They both had friends in Norton and probably just decided to go visit them. They evidently didn't get the ride they had planned on, and must have just started walking, hoping to get another ride."
Mrs Allen said the girls, both seniors in high school, had been lifetime friends.
Services for Lila Bretton will be Tuesday 2 pm in the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, Phillipsburg. Services for Virginia Allen will be Monday 2 pm in the Miles funeral home chapel, Phillipsburg. Both will be buried in Fairview cemetery.
Lila is survived by her parents, three brothers, Ralph, Roy and Rex, and a sister Luella, all of the home; and her grandparents, Mr and Mrs Martin R Smith, Phillipsburg, and Mrs Edith Bretton, Agra. Virginia is survived by her parents, a sister, Wanda, and four brothers, Terry, George, Jerry and Charles, all of the home, and a grandmother, Mrs. Jim Sinclair, Phillipsburg.

NEGLIGENCE CHARGED --
TWO TEEN AGERS DIED IN HIGHWAY TRAGEDY FRIDAY
Double tragedy claimed the lives of two Phillipsburg teenagers shortly before 10 o'clock Friday night when Virginia Allen and Lila Lorraine Bretton were struck and instantly killed by a pickup truck driven by Robert Schemper of Long Island. Both were 17 years of age.
Families and friends believe Lila and Virginia had started out for Norton and apparently they were walking west ihen the westbound lane on US 36. Both wore dark slacks and dark coats, according to the highway patrol.
Tracks indicated that the impact took place just beyond the crest of the hill one mile west of Phillipsburg near the Eddie DeBoer place. The bodies of the two girls were thrown about 100 feet into the ditch at the right of the roadway. The truck went into the ditch toward the bottom of the hill. Schemper, driving west, said he met an oncoming car at the top of the hill, and "did not see the girls at all." He walked back to the DeBoer home, reported an accident and asked for transportation back to town.
In the meantime, Ed Horn, who had passed the scene, called Sheriff Louis Boeve to report a wreck. He had seen the truck go into the ditch. Boeve and Dan Noffsinger, highway patrolman, went to the scene of the accident, but did not know that the two girls had been hit until they discovered the bodies.
Schemper returned from town, still unaware of the tragedy. He had worked at the sales pavilion during the day. After the sale, he said he had helped load out some cattle and had eaten his supper at a cafe downtown. He came out of the cafe and started for his home at Long Island when the accident occurred.
The front of the truck reflects the force of the impact. The grill, headlight, fender and hood were extensively damaged. Dr V W Steinkruger said the the girls had died instantly from multiple injuries.
The highway patrol has charged that Schemper, "unlawfully, feloniously and willfully, and by his act, procurement and culpable negligence, killed two human beings."
A preliminary hearing was set for March 15 at 10 am in county court. Schemper was released on $1000 bond.

Lila was the daughter of Mr and Mrs Mavor Bretton and was born February 22, 1947. Virginia was the daughter of Mr and Mrs Lloyd Allen and she was born June 15, 1947. The tragedy has deeply shocked the community, and we join in extending sympathy to the grieving families.

*OBITUARY -- BRETTON
Today it is hard to find words to say what is going through our minds with the passing of a most precious daughter. Our family circle has been broken. There are many, many sweet memories.

Lila Lorraine Bretton, oldest daughter of Mavor and Ethel Bretton, was born February 22, 1947 in Phillipsburg, Kansas, and departed this life suddenly February 19, 1965 in a tragic accident one mile west of Phillipsburg at the age of 17 years, 11 months and 28 days.

She has grown up in this community and received her education in the Agra and Phillipsburg schools. Lila has always worked as a waitress.

She is survived by her parents; three brothers, Ralph, Roy and Rex, and one sister, Luella Maxine all of the home; her grandparents, Mrs Edith Bretton of Agra and Mr and Mrs Ralph Smith of Phillipsburg; a large circle of uncles, aunts, cousins and a host of friends.

"I've lent to you for a little time, a child of mine," He said.
For you to love while she has lived and mourn for when she's dead.
You'll have her lovely memories as a solace for your grief.
For all the joy this child has brought the risk of grief you've ran.
You've sheltered her with tenderness, you've loved her all the way.
And for the happiness we've known, forever grateful stay.
But since the Angel called for her, much sooner than we've planned.
We'll brave the grief that has come and try to understand.
Funeral services were held at the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel Tuesday afternoon at 2 p. m., with Loren McCord officiating. Libby Mason and Annabelle Spicer furnished the special music, accompanied by Mrs. Paul Mason.
Casket bearers were: Gerald Bretton, Mryon Becker, Ronnie Smith, Stanley Glaum. Raymond Bretton and Lyman Coomes. Interment was made in Fairview cemetery.

Contributed on 10/15/13 by judgebarb
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Record #: 11082

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Submitted: 10/15/13 • Approved: 1/16/19 • Last Updated: 1/19/19 • R11082-G0-S3

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