Richard H. Holtan
Whitehall Man
Killed in Fall
WHITEHALL. Wis. — Richard H. Holtan, 68, died at the Whitehall Community hospital Wednesday at 2 a. m as a result of a broken neck received in a fall at his home Tuesday morning.
While replacing a window blind on his bungalow which he had painted, he fell six feet from a ladder. The fall was due to a broken step in the ladder which caused it to give away, authorities said. He was immediately taken to the hospital where he remained in a state of paralysis from the shoulders down until his death.
Born August 11, 1876, in Dane county he married Betsey Johnson, of Utica, Wis., in October 1897. After farming there until 1902, he moved to Stoughton. Wis., where he formed the Richard Holtan and Co. tobacco business. In 1905 he moved to Whitehall.
The tobacco farmers in the vicinity of Whitehall incorporated in 1914, forming the Holtan Leaf Tobacco company. Mr. Holtan maintained an office in Whitehall and one in Stoughton. After his retirement from the tobacco business, he dealt in real estate.
Mr. Holtan was vice-president of the former People’s State bank. He served several terms as president of the village of Whitehall and represented the village on the County board for the past 10 years, serving two terms as chairman.
He was active in Our Saviour’s Lutheran church and a member of the Community Hospital board.
His first wife died in 1936. In 1940 he married Mrs. Tellefson, of Milwaukee, who survives him.
He is also survived by two sons, Herbert and Rollin, of Whitehall; five grandchildren; two sisters. Mrs. Josie Aasleson and Mrs. Gertie Severson, of Stoughton; and three brothers, Ole, of Albert Lee, Minn., and Andrew and George, of Stoughton.
Services will be held at Our Saviour’s Lutheran church, the Rev. O. G. Birkeland. officiating.
(from the Thursday, June 7, 1945, Eau Claire Leader-Telegram)
Killed in Fall
WHITEHALL. Wis. — Richard H. Holtan, 68, died at the Whitehall Community hospital Wednesday at 2 a. m as a result of a broken neck received in a fall at his home Tuesday morning.
While replacing a window blind on his bungalow which he had painted, he fell six feet from a ladder. The fall was due to a broken step in the ladder which caused it to give away, authorities said. He was immediately taken to the hospital where he remained in a state of paralysis from the shoulders down until his death.
Born August 11, 1876, in Dane county he married Betsey Johnson, of Utica, Wis., in October 1897. After farming there until 1902, he moved to Stoughton. Wis., where he formed the Richard Holtan and Co. tobacco business. In 1905 he moved to Whitehall.
The tobacco farmers in the vicinity of Whitehall incorporated in 1914, forming the Holtan Leaf Tobacco company. Mr. Holtan maintained an office in Whitehall and one in Stoughton. After his retirement from the tobacco business, he dealt in real estate.
Mr. Holtan was vice-president of the former People’s State bank. He served several terms as president of the village of Whitehall and represented the village on the County board for the past 10 years, serving two terms as chairman.
He was active in Our Saviour’s Lutheran church and a member of the Community Hospital board.
His first wife died in 1936. In 1940 he married Mrs. Tellefson, of Milwaukee, who survives him.
He is also survived by two sons, Herbert and Rollin, of Whitehall; five grandchildren; two sisters. Mrs. Josie Aasleson and Mrs. Gertie Severson, of Stoughton; and three brothers, Ole, of Albert Lee, Minn., and Andrew and George, of Stoughton.
Services will be held at Our Saviour’s Lutheran church, the Rev. O. G. Birkeland. officiating.
(from the Thursday, June 7, 1945, Eau Claire Leader-Telegram)