Tragic Accident Kills Phyllis Ott and Husband

Phyllis Ott Walters: 1919-1943 (Maternal First Cousin 1x Removed)

While researching my grandaunt Ethel Macbeth Ott for the previous post, I found more records relating to her two daughters. I immediately noted that Ethel’s younger daughter, Phyllis, died when she was only 23 years old. What could have happened? Then I discovered a news article in an old family scrapbook that explained how a car accident on a February afternoon eighty-one years ago ended not just Phyllis’ life, but the lives of two others.

Start of long Mankato Free Press article clipped and saved by my great-aunt Annie Schostag

Phyllis Ethel Ott was born April 14, 1919 to George Henry Ott and Ethel Macbeth Ott. She grew up in the Mankato area of Minnesota, where she met her husband Ralph Walters. Ralph grew up on a farm near Waseca, Minnesota. Ralph and Phyllis married June 27, 1937; he was 22, and Phyllis was 18 years old.

Ralph worked on road construction through a WPA program, and also did farm work. The couple moved frequently during the early years of their marriage, as can be seen on Ralph’s WWII draft card, which had three separate addresses listed.

Their son, Monte Walters, was born October 17, 1939. Sadly, little Monte died just two months later on December 31, 1939.

On February 21, 1943, life was probably looking up for Ralph and Phyllis. Ralph had a steady income at last as he was working at Kato Engineering, the same firm employing his father-in-law. They were living on Front Street in Mankato. They were young—28 and 23—and had their lives ahead of them.

Ralph and Phyllis were returning from a visit to Ralph’s parents —the Walters had moved to North Branch, Minnesota, about 55 miles north of the Twin Cities. The couple had spent four days with Ralph’s parents and were headed home on Highway 169 that Sunday afternoon. At about 4:30 p.m., Ralph lost control of his car, possibly when the wheels struck a “bump” on the pavement. The car plowed into the side of a cattle truck seven miles north of LeSueur, Minnesota. According to the news article, the car was nearly demolished by the impact. Ralph died at the scene—the driver’s side of the car would have sustained the most damage.

Phyllis survived the crash, but she suffered a skull fracture and internal injuries. She was taken to a hospital in Shakopee, a town nearly thirty miles north of the crash. My aunt, the scrapbook compiler, wrote on the article that Phyllis “died a few days later”. Death records show she died February 23.

Tragically, Alfred Albrecht, an undertaker from Shakopee who was called to the crash scene, suffered a heart attack at home after helping to extract Ralph’s body from the wreckage and then carrying Phyllis into the office of the closest doctor. Albrecht died, so was the third death resulting from this single auto accident.

Fortunately, the driver and passengers in the cattle truck received minimal injuries.

This tragic accident shows how important safety improvements like seat belts, antilock brakes, and improved auto construction have helped to prevent similar deaths. In addition, Highway 169, which I have driven dozens of times, is now a divided highway, providing even more safety if a car loses control.