Decatur County Journal Leon, Iowa Thursday, June 22, 1911 RALPH FLUKE, formerly of Leon, died suddenly on a ranch near Red Lodge, Montana, on June 2, where he had gone to visit for a few days. He had retired on the previous evening seemingly in good health but on the following morning was found in his room in a dying condition. The following clipping from a Red Lodge paper has been sent to friends here: RALPH FLUKE, well known in this city where he lived in the midst of several relatives, died suddenly at the F.O. Hotchkiss ranch on Willow creek on the second of the month. He left this city Sunday, apparently in good health, and was entertained at the ranch. He retired feeling in excellent spirits. In the morning about 6 o'clock one of the members of the household went to the room to awaken the guest, who was found to be suffering near to death. A physician, the young man's father, S.J. FLUKE, and brother, CARL, were summoned from the city. The stricken man never regained consciousness and he died at 9:15 o'clock. The body was brought to Red Lodge where Dr. Adams conducted an autopsy, the result showing that death had been caused by congestion of the lungs with consequent heart affection. Mr. FLUKE was born in Clearmont, Missouri, 23 years and 4 months ago, and while but a lad moved with his parents to Leon, Iowa, where he lived until six years ago when he came to Red Lodge, which since has been his home. Surviving are the parents, Mr. And Mrs. S.J. FLUKE, brothers, CARL and EDWARD, of this city, and a sister, Mrs. ALLIE RELATION, of Northfield, Vt. He was a member of the Modern Woodmen, which organization conducted the funeral services here Tuesday, the local lodge and the Royal Neighbors, the ladies auxiliary marching to the cemetery in a body. The pall bearers were, L.D. Lucas, E. Irish, J.E. Dinsdale, J.E. Davis, F.N. McFate and K.R. Logan. ------------------------------------------------- Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert December 9, 2009 [email protected]